MANCHESTER, New Hampshire. – Battling to get their games in ahead of the anticipated storms expected over the weekend, the University of New Haven Softball team began their New Hampshire road trip to wrap up their regular season ahead of the NE10 postseason. The blue and gold took on the Hawks of Saint Anselm University in a Friday afternoon doubleheader.

New Haven turned to the arm of Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) in game one of the series looking to jump-start their road trip with a win. It was the Chargers striking first in the game. Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) drew a walk to lead off the game and stole second one batter later. After Maeve Lougheed (Audobon, N.J./Audobon) singled to the left side and beat out the throw the Chargers had first and third with one out. Halle Frederick (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown) then flew out to left field, deep enough, allowing time for Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) to tag and score on the play and give New Haven the early lead in the game. With the lead, Aponte took the circle and went to work dealing against the Hawks. After a one-out triple, Aponte sat the next two batters down retaining the one-run lead. Aponte continued to cruise through the game, sitting down the Hawks and keeping them off of the scoreboard. In the fourth inning, Saint Anselm plated two to take their first lead of the game. Just as the Hawks did in the fourth, New Haven plated a pair of runs in the seventh inning. Aaliyah Amidon (Ledyard, Conn./Ledyard) led the inning off with a single getting the tying run on the bases. After Sophia Piccirilli (Dover, N.H./Winnacunnet) pinch-ran for Amidon, she stole second base. With two outs after a second strikeout, Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) drew another walk before the duo of Piccirilli and Chenet advanced a base on a past ball. With runners at second and third, Olivia Roberto (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) walked to load the bases for Maeve Lougheed (Audobon, N.J./Audobon). Lougheed singled to right on the first pitch she saw scoring Piccirilli and Chent and retaking the lead for the blue and gold. Selena Aponte (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) entered in the seventh and shut down Saint Anselm and securing the 3-2 win for New Haven picking up her fifth win of the season. Aponte threw seven innings giving up two runs on nine hits striking out one as the bats combined for three runs on six hits and drawing four walks.

Looking to sweep the series Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) took the circle in game two for the Chargers. The game turned into a pitcher's duel with neither starting pitcher giving up much to the other offenses. The Hawks were the first on the board in the first punching the first run across to take the early lead. The Hawks off three hits in the inning took the 1-0 lead. New Haven would have their opportunities getting runners on, but never finding the big hit they needed with runners on the base paths. The Hawks added a run in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. Trailing two New Haven got on the board in the fifth responding to the Hawks' run in the fourth. The fifth started as Aaliyah Amidon (Ledyard, Conn./Ledyard) led the inning off by reaching on an error. After advancing to second on a sacrifice the Chargers were down to their final out of the inning. Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) then singled to right field and Head Coach Don Justus gave Amidon the green light sending her home where she would score the Charger's first run making it 2-1. Both offenses would then be held at bay by the pitchers as Saint Anselm would take game two by a final of 2-1. Mia Iodice (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) in the loss threw six innings striking out four while giving up two runs on seven hits. The offense combined for four hits while drawing two walks in the loss.       

The Chargers remain in New Hampshire and make the short drive to Southern New Hampshire for their finale of the season against the Penmen on Saturday, April 29. 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.