WEST HAVEN, Conn. – From transportation issues to weather problems the much awaited matchup of the New Haven Chargers softball and the undefeated Franklin Pierce Ravens was set for a Tuesday double header in New Hampshire. Both games proved to be pitchers duels with one swing proving to be the difference maker. The blue and gold continued their road trip with a shortened trip with the Saint Michaels series postponed to later in the month of April, but the collision course of the Chargers and Ravens was only pushed back three days from the original Saturday double header.

Preview: 

Entering the matchup the Chargers came off of a series split on the road against Molloy, finding an offensive surge in game two scoring 9 runs and winning 9-4. On the year the Chargers entered 9-9 overall with a 3-1 record in the Southwest side of the Northeast 10. On the road the blue and gold were 2-2 with the trip to New Hampshire being their third road trip of the season with weather and reschedulings. The offense for the Chargers has been led by the long ball with 12 entering the series with Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) and Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) both hitting three. Across the dugout the Ravens entered sitting perfect, 16-0, coming off of a sweep of Southern Connecticut State University and sitting at 8-0 at home. New Haven has dominated the series all time leading 35-5. This is the first time these two teams have met each other since the 2016 season where the Ravens stole a game from the Chargers in West Haven splitting the double header. 

Game 1:

Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) returned to the circle for a game one debut with a 5-4 record on the year looking for her team leading sixth win of the year. Aponte was able to work out of the pressure of the Ravens in the second inning stranding three runners, but the Ravens scored one run taking the lead. Selena would continue to quiet the Ravens bats throughout the game and work out of pressure situations in multiple innings keeping her team in the game. Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee) watching the dominant performance of Aponte in the circle helped her pitcher out in the 5th. Maeve Lougheed (Audobon, N.J./Audobon) led the inning off reaching on an error and that got the train rolling. Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) singled and following Hailey Laforte's (Milford, Conn./Foran) two out walk, the lineup flipped to the top setting up bases loaded two outs for Mya Case (Syracuse, N.Y/West Genessee). Batting .270 with 1 HR and 2 RBI's Case held the opportunity that everyone dreams of and a chance to take the lead and she did just that with one swing. Case found her pitch and took it deep, clearing the fence for her second home run of the year, her first grand slam, and the teams 4th grand slam of the year taking a 4-1 lead and taking the wind out of the sails of the Ravens. With the lead Aponte made sure that the Ravens never took flight shutting them down in the final three innings giving up only one hit to the Ravens capping off a 4-1 victory and ending the perfect season for Franklin Pierce and improving to 10-9 heading into game two of the double header with the momentum in their favor.

Game 2: 

Following a big game one win, the Chargers looked to add on in game two and keep the Ravens down. Game two was all about the pitchers combining for five total hits for both offenses after an explosive offensive performance in the first. Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) took the circle and game two and held Franklin Pierce to one hit. The Ravens picked up their lone hit off Iodice in the first before she left one on the bases, but after two runs crossed giving Franklin Pierce the 2-0 lead. The bats went quiet until the fourth when Hailey Polisano (Howell, N.J./Howell) opened up the 4th tripling, bringing energy to New Haven's dugout. Nahtali Simpson (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) then flew out and drove in Polisano from third, easily cutting the lead in half. New Haven would threaten but would be unable to get the big hit they needed as both pitchers continued to shut down the bats. Iodice would finish striking out three in the game, giving up the lone hit in the first. The offense was held inside of the park in game 2 leading to a Franklin Pierce 2-1 victory over the Chargers.

Following the split and going 2-2 on the shortened road trip, the team now returns home where they are 3-1 to host a packed weekend, part of a six game homestand. The stand opens with a double header against Saint Rose on Saturday with first pitch at 12 p.m. followed by a Sunday double header against Southwest division rival Le Moyne with the home stand ending with a Tuesday double header against Adelphi. All games broadcasted with live stats on the Charger Sports Network.