WEST HAVEN, Conn. – In the heart of the road stand, the softball team was in Massachusetts taking on the Skyhawks of Stonehill in a crucial conference matchup. After dropping their previous four, the offense found their stride again clearing the fence not once but twice in Easton on their way to a sweep over Stonehill
Preview:
In a series between two teams that have only met 13 times, the Chargers lead the all time series 10-3 with the Chargers sweeping in 2021 and prior to that, these two teams split in 2018 in West Haven. New Haven entered 14-16 and 8-8 in the conference looking to snap their four game losing streak. On the season, the offense has been led by the homer with Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) leading the way with 5 and Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) with four. On the other side Stonehill entered 13-17 and 9-9 in the conference. At home the Skyhawks were 4-4 and coming off a sweep against AIC. With the two teams meeting in back to back years, the Chargers were looking to build momentum ahead of the postseason.
Game 1:
The scoring didn't start until the third inning with the Skyhawks pushing a run across first. In the third, Stonehill strung together three hits and one run to take the one run lead over Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) and the Chargers. That one run would not be enough to hold down the Chargers. Down to their final six outs, the Chargers began to change the tide of the entire double header. After Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) popped up to lead off the inning Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) homered, clearing the left field fence tying the game up at one. The normal seven innings was not enough to decide a winner, and everyone was getting extra inning softball. In the eighth, Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) came back up to bat leading off the inning, and just like she did in the sixth, Laforte repeated. For her second time Laforte cleared the left field fence and gave the Chargers the 2-1 lead. That was all that Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) needed as she sat Stonehill down one, two three securing the opener of the double header. Aponte went eight innings giving up one run and striking out two in the win. Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) finished with two homers bringing her total up to five and in a tie atop the team.
Game 2:
The offense carried over into game two jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first. After Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) reached on a fielder's choice, Meg Anderson (Cranston, R.I./Cranston) singled, setting up first and second with two outs. Maeve Lougheed (Audobon, N.J./Audobon) cashed in on the opportunity with two on and two away. Lougheed doubled to right, scoring Simpson from second and taking the lead. With the lead, Iodice sat down the first 12 Skyhawks going into the 5th inning without walking a batter or giving up a hit. In the fifth Iodice worked out of danger where the Skyhawks finally picked up four hits and pushed a run across tying the game up at one. The game remained tied until the seventh when Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) did not want to stay any longer. With one out Case added to her home run total and gave the lead back to the Chargers and Iodice. With the lead, Iodice walked the first batter of the game before picking up another strikeout and shutting the door on Stonehill. Iodice picked up the win pitching seven innings, giving up six hits striking out 12 and walking only one. Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) hit her fifth homer of the season to complete the sweep of the Skyhawks.
Following the sweep, the team stays in Massachusetts for the night ahead of another double header on Sunday against Bentley. The team will look to carry over the offense power along with looking to Iodice and Aponte to continue to dominate in the circle in their second day in Massachusetts.
