WEST HAVEN, Conn. – After a two-day delay the University of New Haven Softball honored their six seniors on Senior Day on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, as the team hosted conference foe Bentley University in a Northeast 10 playoff implication doubleheader. 

Before the game, the team honored Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley), Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional), Hailey Laforte (Milford, Conn./Foran), Hailey Polisano (Howell, N.J./Howell), Alexa Berry (Commack, N.Y./Commack), and Ashley Veillette (Danielson, Conn./Killingly), all of who became key pieces to the team during their time wearing the blue and gold. Accompanied by their families the seniors did a final lap around the bases, at home with all eyes on them taking it all in for the final time. 

After being honored before the game, Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) got the nod in the circle for game one looking to land the Falcons early on. After the Falcons loaded the bases off Charger's errors, Aponte struck out back-to-back batters to end the inning leaving the bases loaded and keeping the game scoreless. Leading off the home first, Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) drew a walk and would get all the way to third base before being stranded in the inning keeping the game noted at zero. Aponte cruised through the second inning, facing four batters giving up only one hit. Bentley struck first in the third inning pushing the first run across on two hits off Aponte, and forcing two errors on the Charger's defense. Bentley would add a run in the fourth and four runs in the fifth taking a six-run lead. In the home fifth, New Haven and Aponte pushed their first across after Aponte led the inning off drawing a walk. Sophia Piccirilli (Dover, N.H./Winnacunnet) pinch ran for Aponte and after Hailey Polisano (Howell, N.J./Howell) singled up the middle, New Haven had two on with no outs in the inning. Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy), grounded out to third forcing a throw across the diamond, allowing Piccirilli to advance to third and not run into an out. With two on and one away, Maeve Lougheed (Audobon, N.J./Audobon) flew out to deep right field, giving time for Piccirilli to tag and score from third putting New Haven on the board, and making it a five-run game. Bentley would go on to add a pair of runs in the sixth and would hold on to win, 8-1 in game one of the doubleheader. Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) in the circle threw seven innings giving up eight runs, only four earned, on twelve hits striking out four Falcons in her performance. The offense combined for one run on four hits drawing three walks.

Looking to split senior day for the graduating Chargers, Don Justus turned to his other graduating pitcher, Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) for the start in the circle. Iodice after giving up a leadoff walk, Iodice would sit down the next three batters she faced in order and would sit down seven straight before another Falcon would reach base. New Haven got their opportunity to strike first and did in the second off the Falcon's starting wing combining for two hits and drawing two walks. Halle Frederick (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown) led the inning off with a walk after bringing the count full. After Meg Anderson (Cranston, R.I./Cranston) popped up Ashley Veillette (Danielson, Conn./Killingly) drew the second walk of the inning, for the Chargers to have two on and one away in the inning. Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) stepped into the box and down 0-2 in the count, got a pitch in the zone, and doubled to left scoring Frederick from second and advancing Veillette to third on the play. Kylie Thorpe (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) then flew out into foul territory deep enough, to allow time for Veillette to tag and score. Hailey Polisano (Howell, N.J./Howell) kept the inning going sending one back up the middle scoring Ashley Veisz (Robbinsville,N.J./Robbinsville) giving New Haven the 3-0 lead. Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) continued to dominate in the circle cruising through the Falcon's lineup. Bentley pushed a run across in the fourth before Iodice closed out the inning. In the sixth inning, Bentley added a second run cutting the Charger's lead to one run after one hit and forcing two errors in the inning. With a one-run lead in the seventh Iodice returned to the circle looking to close out the game and secure the win for New Haven. After a strikeout to open up the inning, Iodice gave up a single before getting the second out via strikeout looking bringing Bentley to their final out. After a fielder's choice and infield single, the bases were loaded with two out in a one-run ballgame. Iodice had Bentley to their final strike of the game and got a popup on the infield that would be dropped and would score three Falcons all running the bases on the play and giving Bentley their first lead of the game 5-3 in the seventh. Iodice would get the final out of the inning and heading into the home seventh, New Haven needed two runs to tie and three to walk off. Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) and the top of the order were up to lead the inning off, and Chenet lead things off with a walk and would steal second during the inning but would be stranded in the inning as Bentley would come back and win game two 5-3. Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) in the circle threw seven innings of five-run, one earned, striking out four in the game. The offense combined for three runs on eight hits and drew three walks.              

With their home schedule complete, the Chargers wrap up their season on the road in New Hampshire for a weekend pair of doubleheaders. The road trip begins Friday in Manchester, New Hampshire against the Hawks of Saint Anselm before the team takes on the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday. First pitch against the Hawks comes at 3:00 p.m. and first pitch against the Penmen comes at 2:30 p.m. as the team tries to close out their conference schedule strong and make a push headed into the postseason. All updates, schedules, and post-game recaps for the team will be available at Newhavenchargers.com.