STORRS, Conn. — New Haven Softball endured a tough day against the University of Connecticut, suffering two losses on Tuesday: a 17-0 defeat in their first game, followed by a 15-8 loss in game two.

In the first game, the Chargers struggled offensively, managing just one hit and two walks while striking out seven times in the five-inning game. UConn jumped to an early lead in the first inning. Kaitlyn Kibling walked, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Cat Petteys. Haley Coupal crossed the plate following Kaitlyn Breslin's double, and Emma Willers drove in two more runs with a single, giving UConn a 4-0 lead by the end of the first inning.

The Huskies expanded their lead in the third inning. After Cat Petteys was hit by a pitch, she scored on a double by Caylee De Meo. Emma Willers' double added two more runs. A two-run homer by Kibling and a triple by Petteys contributed to an eight-run inning, pushing the score to 12-0. In the fourth inning, UConn continued to dominate, adding five more runs. Pinch runners Bella Cefola and Isabella Lundquist scored on Savannah Ring's single, while sacrifice flies by Cat Petteys and Kaitlyn Breslin brought in two additional runs. UConn led 17-0 at the end of the fourth. The game concluded with UConn maintaining its lead, ending with a final score of 17-0.

On the mound for New Haven, Peyton Sullivan (Savona, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) pitched 2 innings, allowing 7 earned runs on 4 hits with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts. Cecelia Imbimbo (Burlington, Mass./Burlington) pitched 2/3 inning, giving up 5 earned runs on 5 hits, including a home run and two triples. Marzia Johnson (Branford, Conn./Branford) faced 4 batters, walking 3 and allowing 3 earned runs without securing an out. Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) completed 1 inning, surrendering 2 earned runs on 2 hits with 1 walk. Bri Pellicone (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) registered one hit in three at-bats, marking one of the few offensive highlights for the Blue & Gold. Gianna Haniff (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) reached base after being hit by a pitch, contributing to the on-base efforts. Sullivan struck out two batters over two innings but conceded seven earned runs, while Griffin allowed two earned runs across one inning, recording three fly outs.

In the second game, Brianna Trueman (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) led New Haven with three RBIs, part of a five-run second inning, while UConn's offense was powered by five home runs. UConn established an early advantage with three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a triple from Cat Petteys and a double by Caylee De Meo, leading 3-0 after the first.

New Haven answered in the second inning with a five-run surge. Gianna Haniff (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) singled and scored on an error. Jaclyn Piazza (Queens, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) contributed with a two-run single, followed by Trueman who added two more RBIs with a double. The Chargers trailed 5-7 after the second inning. UConn extended its lead in the third with three runs, including a two-run triple by Kaitlyn Kibling, bringing the score to 5-10. In the fourth, the Blue & Gold added a run as Trueman singled to drive in Bri Pellicone (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown), making it 6-10. Emma Willers hit a solo home run in the fifth for UConn, pushing the score to 6-11.

The sixth inning saw New Haven score two through a double by Carson Schakel (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam), but UConn responded with four runs, featuring two-run homers by Kaitlyn Breslin and Willers. The score was 8-15 by the end of the sixth. New Haven did not score in the seventh, and UConn secured the 15-8 victory.

Katie Rhodes (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) pitched a complete game for New Haven, going 6 innings and facing 36 batters. She allowed 13 hits, including five home runs and three triples, resulting in 12 earned runs. Rhodes struck out one and walked three, ending with a WHIP of 2.67. Despite the loss, she showed resilience, throwing 81 pitches with 37 strikes. Offensively, Pellicone scored three runs, collected one hit, and had one RBI. Piazza scored two runs and drove in two RBIs. Trueman recorded three RBIs with two hits, including a double. Schakel added two RBIs with a double.

Up Next, New Haven will travel to face Fairfield University on Wednesday, March 25, at 3 p.m. in Fairfield, Connecticut.