BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Coming off their sweep of the Setters of Pace and the bats exploding, the University of New Haven Softball team took the short drive down I-95 South to take on the Purple Knights of the University of Bridgeport in the blue and golds final nonconference series of the season. Having not played the Purple Knights since a 6-2 win back in 2010 the Chargers looked to continue their winning ways in the series.

Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) got the nod in the circle for game one making her fourth start of the season and looking to slow the arm of Bridgeport's Vise Zarate. After giving up a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth, Griffin got the following three batters out with her defense behind her making the plays and keeping the game tied at zero. The bats for the Chargers put contact on the ball but early on were unlucky not being able to find the green of Seaside Park. The Purple Knights struck first in the second inning scoring four runs on three hits to take the early lead that they would build on as the game continued. New Haven began to string hits together but were never able to get the big third hit in their innings to plate the runs that they needed continuing to trail following Bridgeport adding runs in the fifth. The blue and gold plated their first run in the sixth. Stephanie Smith (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Catholic) singled to lead off the inning and would advance to third on Maeve Lougheed's (Audobon, N.J./Audobon) double to the right-center gap. With two on and no outs in the inning catcher, Halle Frederick (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown) grounded one to first base allowing enough time for Smith to score from third and put the first run on the board. Bridgeport would however respond in the home sixth plating three and making it 9-1 ending the game on the score in the sixth inning after scoring three runs that inning. Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) took the loss in the circle throwing five and a third innings giving up nine runs on 13 hits striking out one. The bats combined for one run on five hits and only one extra-base hit off the bat of Maeve Lougheed (Audobon, N.J./Audobon).

After Bridgeport beat the Chargers by the mercy rule in game one, the Chargers remembered that for game two and sent Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) to the circle to shut down the Purple Knights. After Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) popped out to lead the game off, Kylie Thorpe (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) wore a pitch to become the first baserunner. Maeve Lougheed (Audobon, N.J./Audobon) continued to stay hot singling before advancing to second on Halle Frederick (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown)s's fielders choice. With two on and two outs, the Chargers and Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran) found green in the outfield tripling to right, scoring Lougheed and Frederick to make in a 2-0 Chargers lead. That lead was more than enough for Iodice who dominated in the circle stranding runners that would reach base and using her defense behind her to her advantage. The Chargers plated another run in the third after Thorpe led the inning off with a double, she advanced to third on Lougheed's groundout. Halle Frederik added another double to her season total driving in Thorpe and making it 3-0 New Haven. The Purple Knights plated their first and only run-off Iodice in the home third plating their one run off four hits in the inning. That was all that Iodice would give as she would shut down the Purple Knights for the rest of the afternoon. In the fourth, the Chargers did their damage with two outs in the inning plating four runs that were led off by Stephanie Smith (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Catholic)s' leadoff walk and highlighted by a pair of doubles one off the bat of Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) and the second of the afternoon by Halle Frederick (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown) in an inning that saw four runs on two hits and three walks making it 7-1 New Haven. After losing in six to Bridgeport in game one, New Haven handed in right back in game two scoring two runs in the home fifth before Iodice shut down the Purple Knights in the bottom of the inning picking up a strikeout to win the game in five, 9-1. Iodice threw five innings of one run on nine hits striking out six to walking only one and improving to 8-10 on the year. The bats combined for nine hits, seven extra-base hits, and drawing four walking in the bounce-back win over Bridgeport.     
 

The Chargers now return home for Senior Day on Tuesday night after their Sunday doubleheader against Bentley was moved due to weather. With their final three series all against NE10 teams, the Chargers look to play their best softball to close out the season heading into the conference tournament where the team looks to make a splash and turn eyes to the team. The team will first honor its seniors on Tuesday against the Falcons of Bentley ahead of first pitch which is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Charger Softball Field. All updates, schedules, and post-game recaps for the team will be available at Newhavenchargers.com.