WEST HAVEN, Conn. — New Haven softball faced a challenging weekend against Le Moyne College, finishing with a win and two losses. 

In their first game on Saturday, New Haven fell to Le Moyne 9-0. Despite the loss, Brianna Trueman (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) and Elyse Genaway (Brookfield, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) each recorded a hit, contributing to the Chargers' three-hit effort. Le Moyne took control early, scoring five runs in the first inning. Cianna Benamati drove in the first run with a single, followed by Audrey Benderski's bases-clearing double for three more. Ava Todd added another run with a single, setting the score at 5-0 after the first inning. 

In the second inning, Le Moyne widened their lead with two additional runs. Sydney Nesci scored on an error, and Benderski's advancement on another error brought in a second run. The Dolphins led 7-0 at the end of the second inning. Le Moyne capitalized on New Haven's errors in the third inning, adding two unearned runs. Maddie Martin scored on an error, and Nesci crossed the plate on Benamati's single, pushing the score to 9-0 after three innings.

The Chargers got runners on base with hits from Alivia Imbimbo (Burlington, Mass./Burlington) and Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) but could not convert them into runs. The game ended with Le Moyne maintaining their 9-0 lead. Cecelia Imbimbo (Burlington, Mass./Burlington) started for the Blue & Gold, allowing seven runs on eight hits over 1 2/3 innings, with one strikeout and one walk. Katie Rhodes (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) came in as relief, pitching 2 1/3 innings and giving up two runs on three hits with one strikeout. Marzia Johnson (Branford, Conn./Branford) closed the pitching for New Haven with a scoreless inning, allowing one hit to four batters. Collectively, the Chargers' pitchers recorded three strikeouts and issued two walks.

In their second game later that day, New Haven (4-12, 3-2) secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Le Moyne (4-18, 1-4) in a tense ten-inning matchup. Peyton Sullivan (Savona, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) delivered a strong performance on the mound, pitching a complete game and allowing just one earned run on eight hits. The game remained scoreless through the first three innings, with both teams unable to capitalize on early opportunities. New Haven took the lead in the fourth inning when Brianna Trueman (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) hit a solo home run, giving the Chargers a 1-0 advantage. Le Moyne responded in the fifth inning when Sydney Nesci doubled and later scored on a groundout by Audrey Benderski, tying the game at 1-1.

Both teams held each other scoreless through regulation, forcing extra innings. In the tenth inning, Lucia Ceccarelli (Griswold, Conn./Griswold) doubled to center field and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Allison Murai (Sammamish, WA/Skyline High School), putting New Haven ahead 2-1. The defense held firm in the bottom half of the inning, clinching the game with the final score of Chargers 2, Le Moyne 1. Peyton Sullivan (Savona, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) pitched a complete game, going 10 innings and allowing just one earned run. Sullivan faced 42 batters, giving up eight hits and two walks while striking out one. This marked her first victory of the season, improving her record to 1-2. Brianna Trueman (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) contributed significantly with a home run, driving in one run and scoring once. Lucia Ceccarelli (Griswold, Conn./Griswold) added two hits, including a double, and scored one run. Bri Pellicone (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) provided defensive support with five assists at shortstop while also recording two hits.

Finally, on Sunday, New Haven (4-13, 3-3) experienced a narrow 4-3 defeat against Le Moyne in a home contest marked by a fifth-inning rally. Le Moyne established an early lead in the first inning with Cianna Benamati's double bringing Avery Linn across home plate, setting the score at 1-0. In the second inning, the Dolphins extended their advantage as Avery Linn's single allowed Ava Todd to score, advancing the lead to 2-0. Another run was added by Le Moyne in the third inning when Arianna Exarchakis singled, driving in Cianna Benamati for a 3-0 lead.

The Chargers countered in the fifth inning when Brianna Trueman (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) doubled to center field, bringing home Bri Pellicone (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown), Alivia Imbimbo (Burlington, Mass./Burlington), and Peyton Sullivan (Savona, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) to tie the game at 3-3. The score remained unchanged through the sixth and seventh innings. In the eighth inning, Sydney Nesci's home run put Le Moyne ahead 4-3. Despite a walk and an error that advanced New Haven's runners in the bottom of the eighth, the Chargers were unable to convert. The final score stood at Le Moyne 4, New Haven 3.

Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) started on the mound, pitching 3 innings and allowing 8 hits and 3 earned runs with no walks. Katie Rhodes (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) provided effective relief over 5 innings, surrendering just 2 hits and 1 earned run, with 1 strikeout and 1 walk. Rhodes maintained a low WHIP of 0.60, with 41 of her 56 pitches thrown for strikes. Brianna Trueman (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) contributed significantly with a double and three RBIs. Alivia Imbimbo (Burlington, Mass./Burlington) added a hit, scored a run, and was hit by a pitch. Bri Pellicone (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) excelled defensively at shortstop, recording five assists.

Up next, the Chargers will travel to face the University of Connecticut on Tuesday, March 24, at 3:30 p.m. in Storrs, Conn.