WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Coming off their split with the Ravens, the University of New Haven Softball team returned to the diamond for a Sunday conference double-header as they hosted the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College in their third straight series at home, apart of a four series homestand. Sitting 4-2 in the NE10, the Chargers looked to improve overall and their conference record as the first pitch was set between the Chargers and Purple Knights.

In the circle for game one, Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) got the nod and went to work in front of a home crowd that were able to make the trip for the weekend matchup with St. Mike's. The Purple Knights started the inning with back-to-back singles to lead off. The Purple Knights scored on the next batter as they took the lead in the first before Aponte struck out a pair going into the home first. Both pitchers would lock in shutting down each other's offenses for the next three innings. In the fourth, St. Michaels added to their lead as they led the inning off with a walk before the runner would come around to score on an error by the Chargers. Down two runs, New Haven cut into the lead in the fourth. After loading the bases which started off with a Meg Anderson (Cranston, R.I./Cranston) single followed by Aaliyah Amidon (Ledyard, Conn./Ledyard) reaching on a fielders choice, Ashley Veillette (Danielson, Conn./Killingly) singled and Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) was hit by a pitch setting up bases loaded, two outs, and the top of the order. Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) was patient in the box and drew a walk to bring in the first Charger making it a 2-1 game into the fifth. The Purple Knights added another run in the fifth. In the home fifth, the Chargers scored a pair tying the game at three. New haven set up two on and two away before Ashley Veillette (Danielson, Conn./Killingly) flew out to left but with an error by the left fielder, two came on to score as Frederick and Amidon kept running tying the game at three. New Haven had their chance in the home seven getting the winning run aboard after Amidon singled but, pinch runner Marzia Johnson (Branford, Conn./Branford) ran into a tag recording the final out of the seventh. On a windy Sunday, the families that traveled out to West Haven got to watch extra inning softball between the Purple Knights and the Chargers. In the eighth, the Purple Knights pushed the eventual winning run across after a lead-off single. In the home eighth the Chargers got the tying runner on but would strand the tying run dropping the opener 4-3. Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) threw eight innings of seven hit four-run, and one earned softball, striking out four in the loss. The offense scored three runs on nine hits walking four times. 

Following the loss, the Chargers turned to the arm of their freshman Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) on a day where the team was honoring her mother and looking for the freshman to lead the Chargers to trying to split the series. Griffin making her second consecutive start of the season, walked the leadoff batter in the inning before retiring the next nine batters in order, dominating in the circle on a day she was pitching for for than just herself. The Purple Knights recorded two walks in the fourth, but Griffin locked in getting three outs and stranding the pair of baserunners keeping things scoreless. New Haven watching their pitcher working in the circle capitalized in the fourth. Halle Frederick (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown) singled up the middle for her second hit of the afternoon, before advancing to second on a passed ball. Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) singled following the passed ball as Frederick advanced to third on the play. With first and third, Olivia Roberto (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) doubled on the left-side scoring Frederick scored. That run would be all that Griffin needed in the game to shut down the Purple Knights. Griffin carried a no-hitter into the sixth before she gave up a single in the inning but that had little impact on Griffin who stranded the runner on the pond and kept New Haven in front. In the seventh looking for a final three outs, Griffin got a quick first out before giving up a walk and double with two away. The tying run stood on third with two outs for the Purple Knights, but Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) had no intention to let the game go to extras or drop the series to the Purple Knights. Griffin was trailing to the nine-hole hitter before throwing three straight strikes with a final swinging strike that brought Griffin jumping out of the circle and being greeted by her entire team celebrating her second win and the Charger's win splitting the series. Griffin threw seven innings of two-hit shut-out softball striking out five in the win as Olivia Roberto (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) got things done with the bat with her RBI double to take the 1-0 win. 

With the split, the Chargers wrap up their homestand with a midweek meeting against the Dolphins of the College of Staten Island in non-conference softball on Wednesday, April 5. First pitch of the doubleheader against the Dolphins comes at 2:00 p.m. on the Charger Sports Network and NE10 NOW and all updates, schedules, and post-game recaps for the team will be available at Newhavenchargers.com.