WEST HAVEN, Conn. — New Haven Softball faced a challenging doubleheader against the College of the Holy Cross on Wednesday, dropping both games. In the first game, New Haven fell to Holy Cross 4-3, despite taking an early lead with three runs in the first inning. The Chargers recorded six hits but could not regain the lead after Holy Cross scored twice in the third inning.

New Haven started strong in the first inning, scoring three runs. Bri Pellicone (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) walked and advanced to second on Gianna Haniff's (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) walk. Kylie Thorpe (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) hit a double to center field, bringing in Pellicone. Haniff scored on Brianna Trueman's (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) single to right field. Trueman was caught stealing, allowing Thorpe to steal home. New Haven led 3-1 after the first inning.

Holy Cross responded in the third inning with two runs to tie the game. Bella Nugent singled and advanced to third on Emily McCandless's double. Anna Brait's single to center field drove in both runners. The score was tied 3-3 at the end of the third inning.

In the fifth inning, Holy Cross took the lead. Bella Nugent scored from a double by Anna Brait, bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of Holy Cross. The game concluded with Holy Cross maintaining its lead, as the Blue & Gold were unable to score in the final innings, resulting in a final score of Holy Cross 4, New Haven 3.

Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) pitched four innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits, with two walks and one strikeout, throwing 64 pitches. Peyton Sullivan (Savona, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) relieved for three innings, giving up one earned run on five hits and recording one strikeout, with 54 pitches thrown. Sullivan was charged with the loss, bringing her record to 2-10. Kylie Thorpe (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) led the offense with two hits, including a double, and one RBI, while also stealing a base. Gianna Haniff (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) contributed by reaching base three times, recording one hit and drawing two walks. Brianna Trueman (Trout Run, Pa./Montoursville Area) added a hit and an RBI to the team's effort. 

In the second game, New Haven fell to Holy Cross 1-0 in a contest that extended into extra innings. New Haven (10-35, 8-16) managed only two hits against Holy Cross (10-31, 4-11), with Holy Cross securing the win by scoring the lone run in the eighth inning.

In the first inning, New Haven left two runners on base after Gianna Haniff (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) walked and Jess Petit reached first on an error, but they couldn't capitalize, leaving the score at 0-0. The fourth inning saw New Haven's Petit single to right field, but subsequent batters were unable to bring any runs home.

In the seventh inning, New Haven had a chance to score with Marzia Johnson (Branford, Conn./Branford) hit by a pitch and Lucia Ceccarelli (Griswold, Conn./Griswold) doubling to left field, advancing Johnson to third. However, they were unable to convert, keeping the score tied at 0-0. Holy Cross scored the game's only run in the eighth inning when Ava Gambichler, initially placed on second, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Emma Horrocks' double to right center, giving Holy Cross a 1-0 lead.

New Haven had a last chance in the bottom of the eighth with Allison Murai (Sammamish, WA/Skyline High School) placed on second, but a double play ended their opportunity to tie the game. The final score was Holy Cross 1, New Haven 0.

Katie Rhodes (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) pitched three innings for the Chargers, allowing two hits with no walks or earned runs and recording one strikeout on 32 pitches, 21 of which were strikes. Cecelia Imbimbo (Burlington, Mass./Burlington) pitched for two innings in relief, striking out one batter and throwing 17 strikes out of 25 pitches. Skylar Griffin (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) closed the game with three innings, giving up three hits and one run, while walking two and striking out two on 36 pitches, 23 of which were strikes. Ceccarelli contributed with a double, marking one of the two hits for the Blue & Gold, while Petit added another hit.