After a split of a doubleheader on Friday against Bentley University, on Sunday, the New Haven softball team split another doubleheader against Assumption University in Worcester, Mass.
In game one, the Chargers managed just one hit off right-handed pitcher Kaelin Waldron. Pinch hitter Gianna Depino broke up the no-hitter in the top of the sixth inning with a single into center field, but was followed by a fielder’s choice and ended New Haven’s best scoring opportunity.
Right-handed pitcher Viana McKinley got the ball for New Haven in game one. She completed five innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout. The Chargers committed one error which allowed two runs to score in the bottom of the fourth and gave the Greyhounds a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third, when second baseman Lauren Geremia hit a double that allowed pinch runner Raigan Gregoire to score after a double steal put two runners in scoring position. Third baseman Alyssa Johnson followed with a sacrifice bunt that scored left fielder Abigail Larson to give Assumption a 2-0 lead.
After the error that allowed two unearned runs to score for the Greyhounds to take a 4-0 lead, first baseman Grace Heim hit a sacrifice fly to left field that brought Johnson around to score to stretch the lead to five.
Center fielder Jordan Dwyer led off the bottom of the sixth with a double down the right-field line before she advanced to third base on a sacrifice fly. Larson brought her around to score with a safety squeeze that gave Assumption a 6-0 lead. She made her way around the bases with two stolen bases before right fielder Kaitlyn Cahill singled into center field for the seventh run of the game.
New Haven was retired in order in the top of the seventh and gave them a 7-0 loss in a lopsided loss in game one of the doubleheader.
Right-handed pitcher Breanna Kinney started on the mound in game two for the Chargers. She dominated the Greyhounds as she pitched a complete game and allowed just two runs on five hits and struck out two on 89 pitches.
New Haven got on the board early in game two after Bella Chenet led off with a walk and a stolen base. After left fielder Stephanie Smith was hit by a pitch, first baseman Meg Anderson lined a single into left field that scored Chenet and gave the Chargers an early 1-0 lead.
Right fielder Lucia Ceccarelli singled through the right side of the infield which loaded the bases before catcher Halle Frederick ripped a triple to the fence in left-center field that cleared the bases and broke the game open in the first inning for New Haven.
The first inning runs would be all the scoring the Chargers would need as Kinney kept Assumption’s bats quiet.
Catcher Corin Mahan led off the bottom of the second for Assumption with a single up the middle. Gregoire came in as a pinch runner for her and stole second and third to give the Greyhounds a quality scoring chance. Designated hitter Jaiden Tonucci scored her with a safety squeeze to cut the lead to three, but New Haven limited the damage with an inning ending double play.
Larson led off the bottom of the third with a walk and made it to third on a bunt single by Cahill. She then stole second to put two runners in scoring position and Geremia flew out to center field to bring Larson around to score and cut the lead to two.
Kinney’s performance on the mound only got better in the late innings. The Greyhounds had no answer for her as she induced weak contact and got quick outs to keep New Haven’s two-run lead. She got Cahill to pop out to shortstop Rachel Krogman to end the game and deliver the Chargers a 4-2 lead and a split of the doubleheader.
With the win in game two, New Haven’s record on the season improved to 4-20 (2-6 NE-10). They will face off against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University for a doubleheader at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. More information can be found at NewHavenChargers.com.
