WEST HAVEN, Conn. — New Haven women's softball team experienced both a thrilling victory and a narrow defeat against Manhattan College over two games this week. 

In the first game, New Haven secured a 6-5 victory, marking its second win of the season. The Chargers' offense was pivotal in the seventh inning, producing two crucial runs to seal the win. New Haven achieved season highs with 10 hits and 6 runs in the game. Brianna Trueman's (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) walk-off, two-run double with two outs in the seventh inning gave New Haven its first win as a Division I program. 

Manhattan initially led in the first inning when Brianna Estevez scored on a wild pitch. New Haven answered in the third inning with Elyse Genaway (Brookfield, Mass./Tantasqua Regional), who was hit by a pitch, and Allison Murai (Sammamish, WA/Skyline High School), who tallied a season-high 2 hits, both advancing on a single by Gianna Haniff (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun). Haniff recorded her first RBI of the season and a season-high 2 hits, bringing Genaway home. Jess Petit followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Murai and marking her first RBI of the season. The score was tied 3-3 at the end of the third.

In the fourth inning, the Blue & Gold gained the lead as Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) walked, stole second, and scored on Genaway's groundout. The lead extended in the fifth with Brianna Trueman's (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) single, driving in Haniff. Trueman recorded a season-high 3 RBIs, demonstrating her run-driving ability. New Haven led 4-3 after five innings.

Manhattan evened the score at 4-4 in the sixth on a wild pitch. However, the Chargers regained the lead in the seventh when Trueman doubled down the right-field line, allowing Petit and pinch-runner Jaclyn Piazza (Queens, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) to score. Despite Manhattan adding an unearned run, New Haven clinched the win with a final score of 6-5.

Katie Rhodes (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) delivered a strong performance for New Haven, pitching a season-high 5 2/3 innings while allowing only three hits. She issued one walk and recorded a WHIP of 0.77, demonstrating control and efficiency. Rhodes faced 24 batters, allowing one earned run and two runs overall, while throwing a season-high 75 pitches, 52 of which were strikes, earning her a win and improving her record to 1-0.

Gianna Haniff (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) contributed significantly with one run, two hits, and one RBI. Brianna Trueman's (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) three RBIs, including a decisive double, highlighted her offensive performance. Defensively, Kylie Thorpe (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) anchored the team with four assists at second base.

In the second game, the Chargers fell in a close contest to Manhattan, also by a score of 6-5. Playing at home, New Haven built an early lead with a four-run second inning, but Manhattan's decisive five-run fifth inning secured their victory.

Manhattan got on the board first in the opening inning with Sophia Kiseloski's single to left field, driving in Brianna Estevez. New Haven responded in the second inning. Jess Petit singled and advanced to second on a fielding error, setting up Bella Chenet's (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) RBI single that marked her first run batted in for the season. Elyse Genaway (Brookfield, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) reached on a fielder's choice, and Marzia Johnson's (Branford, Conn./Branford) walk loaded the bases, helping her achieve her first run of the season. Bri Pellicone (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) then hit a crucial single, advancing to third on an error, and drove in three unearned runs—a season-high for her. The Chargers finished the inning leading 4-1.

Manhattan regained control in the fifth inning with a series of strong hits, including a two-run homer by Natalye DeBus and an RBI double by Lainey Brown, adding five runs to their tally. New Haven managed one more run in their half when Gianna Haniff (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) reached on an error, allowing Pellicone to score on Petit's groundout. At the end of the fifth, Manhattan led 6-5.

The Chargers couldn't close the gap in the final innings, with Manhattan holding on to secure a narrow victory.

Cecelia Imbimbo (Burlington, Mass./Burlington) pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on ten hits, with three strikeouts and two walks. Despite giving up a home run and two triples, Imbimbo recorded six flyouts and five groundouts. Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) relieved Imbimbo, pitching 2 1/3 innings without allowing any runs, giving up three hits and one walk, maintaining a WHIP of 1.90.

Pellicone drove in three runs and recorded a hit, contributing significantly to New Haven's offense. Petit added two hits and one RBI, marking her second consecutive game with two hits. Chenet collected two hits, scored one run, and successfully stole a base.

Up Next, New Haven will travel to face Saint Francis University on Saturday, March 14, in Loretto, Pa. The game is set for 1 p.m. ET.