WEST HAVEN, Conn. — New Haven Softball faced Stonehill College in a series of games, resulting in a 5-2 loss on Saturday, a 6-1 defeat in a home game later that day, but bouncing back with an 8-4 victory on Sunday.

In the first game, New Haven's offense managed seven hits and produced two runs in the sixth inning. Stonehill took an early lead in the fourth when Luka Bornhorst, pinch-running for Harper Sullivan, scored on a single by Jessica Brill, ending the fourth inning with Stonehill up 1-0. They extended their advantage in the fifth with four runs, highlighted by an RBI single from Juli Murillo and a double from Jessica Brill that brought in Harper Sullivan. New Haven responded in the sixth with Marzia Johnson's (Branford, Conn./Branford) single and Bella Chenet's (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) two-run single, finishing the inning trailing 5-2. The seventh inning saw no further scoring, concluding the game at Stonehill 5, New Haven 2. 

Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) pitched 5 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1. Griffin threw 81 pitches, with 49 strikes. Peyton Sullivan (Savona, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) entered in relief for 2 innings, striking out 5 batters and giving up 3 hits with 1 walk. Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) was a key player, driving in two runs, while Gianna Haniff (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) and Kylie Thorpe (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) each collected two hits. Looking ahead, New Haven was set to host Stonehill College again on Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m.

In the second game, New Haven fell to Stonehill 6-1, with Stonehill showcasing a consistent offensive performance with 10 hits, including five doubles. Stonehill took the lead in the second inning when Harper Sullivan scored on a sacrifice fly from Juliana Alicea. The score remained 1-0 until the fifth inning, when Stonehill scored three runs to extend their lead to 4-0. New Haven's Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) managed to score in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Jaclyn Piazza (Queens, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy), but this was not enough to overcome the deficit. The game ended with a final score of Stonehill 6, New Haven 1.

Katie Rhodes (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) started for New Haven, pitching 5 innings with 6 earned runs allowed on 9 hits, while striking out 1. Cecelia Imbimbo (Burlington, Mass./Burlington) relieved Rhodes, allowing just 1 hit in 2 innings. Chenet contributed a hit and a run, while Piazza added an RBI single. New Haven was scheduled to face Stonehill again on Sunday, April 26, at noon.

In the series finale, New Haven secured an 8-4 victory over Stonehill, marked by a decisive four-run third inning. The Chargers struck first in the second inning with Jess Petit scoring on a single by Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy). The third inning saw significant action; after Elyse Genaway (Brookfield, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) was hit by a pitch, Bri Pellicone (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) and Gianna Haniff (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) both singled to load the bases. Emily Ricci's (Ringwood, N.J./Lakeland Regional) single brought in a run, and a sacrifice fly from Petit scored another. Brianna Trueman's (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) single drove in two more runs, giving New Haven a 5-1 lead. They further extended their lead in the fifth with a three-run inning, resulting in an 8-4 score.

Cecelia Imbimbo (Burlington, Mass./Burlington) pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing 8 hits and 4 runs (only 1 earned), while striking out 4 and issuing no walks. Peyton Sullivan (Savona, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) provided solid support in relief, pitching 2 1/3 innings with only 1 hit allowed. Brianna Trueman (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) and Bella Chenet (Plantation, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy) were standout performers, with Trueman driving in two runs and Chenet collecting two hits, including a triple, and three RBIs. 

New Haven will next host Holy Cross on Wednesday, April 29, at 2:30 p.m. at New Haven Softball Field in West Haven, Connecticut.