The Chargers faced off against cross-town rivals, the Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) Owls, in a double-header and split the series, 1-1.
The Chargers looked to get back in the win column after falling short to Assumption University earlier in the week.
In game one, New Haven lost 5-1. The Owls scored on the second batter of the game after back-to-back singles. Two more singles drove in the second run of the inning for SCSU. Two additional Owl runs came through on a double before a lineout ended SCSU’s half of the first inning. In the Chargers’ half, outfielder Bella Chenet got a leadoff walk and then back-to-back singles by outfielder Olivia Roberto and catcher Brianna Trueman drove in Chenet for the Chargers’ first run of the game. Southern’s offense stifled for the remainder of the game, only scoring one more run on a homerun. New Haven’s offense also went stalemate, as they collected a few hits but never scratched anything across home plate. The Chargers collected six team hits, with Trueman batting 3-for-3 to lead the way.
On the mound for New Haven, pitcher Skylar Griffin went three innings, gave up seven hits, five runs and had a strikeout. Pitcher Katie Rhodes came into the game in relief and pitched four innings, allowed two hits and struck out two.
In the second game, the Chargers won in dramatic fashion. Southern singled twice in the top of the second, but Chargers pitcher Breanna Kinney left them stranded. In the third, the Owls left runners in scoring position as Kinney continued to work around batters. The Chargers got their first base runner of the game in the fourth after Chenet walked. Infielder Cori Wilton collected the first hit for the Chargers in the fifth, but New Haven was unable to score. The game was scoreless for seven innings, which brought the Chargers and Owls into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, infielder Kylie Thorpe pinch hit for Wilton and drove a single into right center. Outfielder Lucia Ceccarelli singled right after and Thorpe advanced to third on an error by the shortstop. Outfielder Stephanie Smith walked the game off for New Haven on a fielder’s choice.
With the win, New Haven improves to an overall record of 9-21 and 2-6 in conference play. The Chargers are back in action Monday as they face the Saint Anselm Hawks in Manchester, N.H. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at South Athletics Field. For more information, please visit NewHavenChargers.com.
