In low-scoring games, it only takes one play to change the outlook of a game in any situation. Every play becomes magnified and could be the difference between walking off the field with a win or wondering what went wrong.

Big plays come in all forms, but none electrify a team more than watching the ball leave the yard. Home runs combined with a pair of dominant pitching performances is a good recipe for success, coming together to make big plays in key spots and not allowing any runs on the mound to give up the lead.

The University of New Haven softball team launched three home runs in a doubleheader sweep of the College of Saint Rose on Saturday afternoon, coming away with 4-1 and 3-2 respective wins. Two complete games led the way for the Chargers, as the long ball provided all of the run support that they needed to come away with two huge wins on the road.

Senior right-handed pitcher Selena Aponte got the start in game one, earning her third win of the season allowing just one run and six hits in a complete game victory. After allowing a two-out single in the bottom of the first inning to first baseman Madison Chandler that brought Saint Rose’s only run of the game around to score, Aponte shut down the Golden Knights lineup and kept her team ahead in run-scoring opportunities.

New Haven responded in the top of the second with a home run to tie the game at one from designated hitter Meg Anderson. Their offense fell quiet after tying the game, unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position until the sixth when the long ball gave them all of the run support they would need through the late innings.

Right fielder Olivia Roberto led off the inning with a single to left field, followed by another single from shortstop Maeve Lougheed to set up a key opportunity with two runners on and no outs. Catcher Halle Frederick crushed a huge, go-ahead three-run home run to left field that put New Haven ahead by three with just six outs needed to come away with a big win in game one.

Aponte closed the door on a huge chance in the bottom of the sixth for Saint Rose with two outs and a runner in scoring position. After New Haven could not bring another insurance run across in the seventh, Aponte once again shut down the Golden Knights with the go-ahead run in the on-deck circle.

Game two saw another huge pitching performance lead the way for New Haven with graduate right-hander Mia Iodice’s tossed a complete game where she allowed four hits on two runs and struck out 11 for her fifth win of the season.

New Haven got on the board early with a single from Lougheed that brought center fielder Bella Chenet around to score to take a 1-0 lead. They were not able to scratch any more runs across in the second or third despite having a runner in scoring position.

Third baseman Ashley Veisz launched the team’s third home run of the afternoon in the top of the fourth to put the Chargers ahead by three.

Iodice was able to work around traffic on the bases in the fourth to keep her shutout intact until the sixth when Saint Rose plated two to make it a one-run game going into the seventh.

Chandler knocked in the first run with a double to center field that brought second baseman Alexandra Deeter around to score, followed by an RBI groundout from third baseman Isabella Milazzo that plated Chandler and made it a 3-2 game.

With the game-tying run on second in the bottom of the seventh, Iodice was able to induce weak contact three times and seal the game for the Chargers, coming away with a sweep of the doubleheader in a huge conference matchup.

New Haven will head to Garden City, N.Y. for their next doubleheader against Adelphi University on Tuesday for two more conference games. Coming off a huge sweep, the Chargers will look to provide clutch hits in key moments and come away with another pair of wins heading into the last playoff push. More information can be found at newhavenchargers.com.