LEESBURG, Florida. – For the third day in a row, the University of New Haven Softball team returned to the diamond for another doubleheader of their spring break trip with their first game against Minnesota Crookston followed by a meeting with Missouri St. Louis following the completion of their first game.
Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) returned to the circle for the opener against Minnesota Crookston as the Chargers hunted for their first win of the road trip. The Golden Eagles scored first in the top of the first coming on one hit and forcing one error on the Charger's defense. In the third, the Golden Eagles scored again making it a two-run game. In the fifth, the Golden Eagles plated two more runs before adding another pair in the seventh making it a six-run game. Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) threw seven innings striking out three while giving up six runs, three earned on seven hits in the loss. The Charger's bats combined for three hits from Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy), Meg Anderson (Cranston, R.I./Cranston), and Ashley Veillette (Danielson, Conn./Killingly).
In game two the blue and gold faced off against the Tritons of Missouri - St. Louis for the first time in the two programs' history. Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) took the circle trying to slow the bats of the Tritons. The Tritons bats however struck first scoring three in the first to take the early lead. New Haven quickly responded in the second as Meg Anderson (Cranston, R.I./Cranston) led the inning off with a single into the left-center gap. Sophia Piccirilli (Dover, N.H./Winnacunnet) pinch ran for Anderson and would steal second base in the inning getting into scoring position. With two away in the inning Aaliyah Amidon (Ledyard, Conn./Ledyard) drove Piccirilli home cutting into the lead and making it a 3-1 game. In the second the Tritons pushed a pair across extending the lead to four. In the third, the blue and gold chipped into the lead again as Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) led the inning off with a single into left. Kylie Thorpe (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) reached on a fielders choice setting up two on with none away. The Chargers then used their speed on the bases using a double steal that Chenet read perfectly scoring on the play after stealing third scoring the Chargers second run of the game. The Chargers offense was then held quiet as the Tritons would go on to extend their lead and take the game by a final of 9-2. Iodice threw one and two-thirds giving up five runs, two earned on two hits striking out a pair. Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) completed the game by throwing four and a third giving up four runs on eight hits. The offense combined for five hits.
After playing three days in a row the Chargers have the day off on Wednesday to enjoy the sunshine of Florida before the team returns to the diamond on Thursday, March 16 for an afternoon doubleheader with their opener against Alliance University followed by a meeting with Indiana University Pennsylvania. The opener is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. first pitch followed by a 3:45 p.m. first pitch of game two. All updates, schedules, and post-game recaps for the team will be available at Newhavenchargers.com.
