WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Following the sweep of Stonehill with the power of the bats leading the way, the Chargers softball team, stayed in Massachusetts for a double header against Bentley University. The blue and gold hit three homers two from Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) and one by Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) to lead the sweep and off the arm of Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) the team looked to carry over the success against the Falcons.
Preview:
The Chargers and Falcons entered having met 30 times all time with New Haven leading all time 26-4. The two teams have not met since 2018 where the Chargers swept the Falcons in West Haven, with the Falcons last win coming in 2014. New Haven entered, coming off sweeping the Skyhawks, riding the bat of Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) in game one hitting two in the game, and her second being the game winner. Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) added another homer in game two to bring out the brooms. The pair of wins moved New Haven to 16-16 overall and 10-8 in the Conference. On the other side Bentley entered 18-16 and 8-10 in the conference following a sweep of Southern Connecticut State University. The stage was set and Aponte took to the circle looking to start strong in game one.
Game 1:
New Haven started the scoring in the second inning with Meg Anderson (Cranston, R.I./Cranston) singling to get the inning going. Ashanti Truelsen (Yonkers, N.Y./Saint Vincent Ferrer) pinch ran for Anderson and advanced to second on a passed ball, getting into scoring position and one away. Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) capitalized on the opportunity turning on a one two pitch and doubled to left field trading places with Truelsen and taking the 1-0 lead. Melissa Bike (Stratford, Conn./Saint Joseph) would walk later in the inning but would be stranded ending the inning with a 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the second. Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) would strike out two in the second, but the Falcons strung together five hits pushing three across in the inning to take the two run lead. New Haven would pick up four more hits in the game with Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee), Nahtali SImpson, and Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) all adding a hit while Veisz would pick up a second hit in the game. Aponte would go six innings giving up 12 hits striking out 4 while the Falcons would score six taking game one six to one over the Chargers. New Haven would look to Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) in game two to split the day and take three of four on the weekend.
Game 2:
Just like in game one the Chargers jumped out to a lead in the fifth inning. The first four innings were a pitcher duel with both starters working out of jams and denying the offenses of cashing in on their opportunities. New Haven in the fifth broke through with Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) reaching on an error. Case flew out to right but with the wind the right fielder could not make the play allowing Case to advance all the way around to third with one away. Hallie Frederick then grounded out on the infield but it was enough to score Case and take the 1-0 lead in the fifth. Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) would return to the circle and would continue to work. Iodice would find the first hint of trouble in the seventh with two on and one away with the one run lead. The Falcons would ground into a fielder's choice and on the throw score two runs walking off against the blue and gold coming back to win 2-1. Iodice went six and a third giving up seven hits and only one earned run in the loss while striking out six in the loss.
The road trip continues for the Chargers now on the road in Vermont to take on Saint Michael's College for the finale of the road trip on Tuesday. The team now 16-18 is looking for major wins to stay in the hunt for the postseason and with six games to go every game matters ahead of their final four games at home next weekend.
