NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The New Haven softball team picked up a split against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday, closing out the four-game series against the Owls taking 3-of-4. The Chargers earned a 2-1 victory in a tightly contested opening game before dropping a 5-1 decision in game two, breaking what was a 13-game win streak at the time.
Combined on the afternoon, New Haven was led by freshman catcher Morgan Fisher (Erial, N.J./Paul VI) and junior pitcher Ava Fitzmaurice (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) who each finished with a pair of base-knocks, part of nine total on the day for the Blue and Gold.
In the circle, Fitzmaurice would earn the victory in game one, pitching a complete game, while also pitching six full innings of relief in game two. Classmate Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) suffered the loss in the second game as she was responsible for the first three runs scored. Combined on the day, Fitzmaurice threw 13 innings, allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on 13 hits and struck out seven batters.
GAME 1: New Haven 2, Southern Connecticut 1
Southern Connecticut would strike first on the day, taking advantage of a throwing error in the first inning on a double steal attempts. After that run score, the Owls would end up stranding five runners on base, while the Chargers defense registered a pair of double plays in the game, both on line drives.
Both of the Chargers runs in the opening game were also unearned tallies with both of those being scored in the third inning. The Chargers threatened in the top of the first inning, stranding runners on the corners.
In the third, Fitzmaurice would get things rolling with a one-out single to left field which was followed by a free pass issued to Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange). Both Fitzmaurice and Simpson would end up scoring on a pair of misplays. Fitzmaurice would score when on an infield fly the first baseman threw the ball out of play allowing the runner to advance. Simpson would score on the next at bat, a muffed play by the third baseman which allowed her to score standing up.
That score would stand up as combined the teams would muster just three runners in scoring position the remaining four-and-a-half innings. Defensively. New haven would have the benefit of a line drive in the fourth inning, while Fitzmaurice retired the Owls in order in the third and fifth innings. In the seventh, The Owls would have runners on first and second with two outs before Fitzmaurice closed the book with a swinging strikeout.
Game 2: Southern Connecticut 5, New Haven 1
In game two, the Owls would again strike first, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. A leadoff single up the middle would start things off for Southern Connecticut with the next two batters earning walks. After a pitching change that led to the first out, the Owls used back-to-back singles to drive in runs and take what would amount to a game-winning lead.
Southern Connecticut added single runs in the fifth and the sixth, the latter of which was the lone home run of the afternoon which came off the bat of Morgan Tusca.
New Haven threatened multiple times, stranding five runners in scoring position, while its only run of the game came in the fifth inning. A leadoff single for freshman outfielder Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) was the starting point as she would come around to score on a two-out error at short that allowed junior Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) to reach safely and extend the inning.
NEXT UP
The Chargers will return to the diamond earlier than expected, adding a rescheduled NE10 Southwest Division doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon against the American International Yellow Jackets. The doubleheader, which was originally scheduled for last week and was rained out, is slated for a 2:30 p.m. start at the New Haven Softball Field.
