It’s difficult to come away with wins in both games of a doubleheader, especially when facing your crosstown rival. Teams know what to expect and understand the importance of every moment that plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of the game.

A team’s ability to win games is largely built on their pitching staff being able to limit run-scoring opportunities, a fact which proved pivotal in the split of the doubleheader between the New Haven and Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) softball teams. With just four runs scored between the two games, New Haven’s pitching led the way to pick up one game in an important doubleheader, limiting SCSU to just six runs.

Game one started as a pitchers’ duel between New Haven right-hander Selena Aponte and SCSU right-hander Jessica Perucki until the top of the sixth inning when the Owls scratched two runs across and took the lead in the late innings.

Second baseman Katrina Roy led the inning off with a single up the middle, and after an error that put a runner in scoring position, Aponte was able to get two quick outs and look to strand the runners on first and second. Right fielder Rachel Miller cashed in on the two-out chance with a lined single to right-center field that plated Roy for the first run of the game.

Third baseman Gabby Festa followed the single with one of her own down the left-field line, bringing the second run of the inning across that put SCSU ahead by two. Aponte quickly stopped the bleeding with a groundout to third and gave New Haven a chance to bring themselves back in the game.

New Haven went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, bringing SCSU back to the plate looking to add to their lead. They tacked on three runs and took a 5-0 lead as Roy doubled to bring the first run of the inning around to score. Catcher Jacqueline Dumont singled through the left side to make it a four-run game and an error made it a five-run game, proving to be all of the offense they needed to come away with a win in game one.

After getting shut out in game one, New Haven got on the board quickly in game two after a leadoff double from center fielder Bella Chenet, who stole third and came around to score on a groundout by right fielder Olivia Roberto.

New Haven right-handed pitcher Mia Iodice got the start for the Chargers in game two and she shut down SCSU’s lineup, going the distance and allowing just two hits and striking out seven.

Iodice kept the Owls off the board until the fourth, where they took advantage of two throwing errors in the inning, including a throwing error on a wild pitch to tie the game at one. Iodice was able to work around runners in scoring position to keep the game tied going into the late innings.

New Haven responded in the bottom of the inning with a one-out single from third baseman Ashley Veisz to start the threat, followed by a walk to first baseman Aaliyah Amidon. Pinch hitter Hailey Laforte came through with a clutch single through the right side to take a one-run lead, forcing SCSU to go to the bullpen.

After the pitching change, Chenet delivered another huge hit with a two-run single down the left-field line to go ahead by three and give them a comfortable lead.

Iodice sent the Owls down in order in the fifth and sixth innings heading into the seventh with the opportunity to salvage the second game of the day. With runners on first and second with two outs, Iodice struck out left fielder Ally Petrella to seal the game and deliver her sixth win of the season.