WEST HAVEN, Conn. – With eight runs off five hits in the bottom of the third inning, the University of New Haven softball team swing its way to a 10-2, five inning victory over American International College Friday afternoon. Christina Gelardi (Derby, Conn./Derby) led the team with two hits, two RBI and a run scored, while Courtney Reed (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) went 1-for-1 with two walks at the plate with two RBI and two runs in the win.

New Haven improved to 11-5 overall and 1-1 in the Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division. The Yellow Jackets dropped to 3-9 overall and 1-3 in NE-10 divisional play.

AIC took an early lead at the UNH Softball Field. UNH walked a run in midway through the top of the first and then a solo homerun to left field in the top of the third inning gave the Yellow Jackets and early 2-0 lead.

The New Haven bats took a few innings to get started, but in the bottom of the third with two outs the Chargers found their first hit. UNH strung together five hits along with one AIC error to score eight runs in the bottom of the inning. New Haven hit completely through the order with a two-RBI homerun down the left field line from Reed highlighting the string.

The Yellow Jackets put one runner on base in the top of the fourth, while Gelardi singled up the middle in the bottom of the inning. Both runners were left on base and the game went into the fifth.

A six-pitch top of the fifth inning retired the side for AIC. In the bottom half, two hits and a walk loaded the bases for Lucy Francisco (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence ). The senior tapped a single up the middle and drove in the Chargers’ ninth run of the afternoon. After a force out at home, Gelardi drew a bases loaded walk and the Chargers went ahead by eight, 10-2, to earned the mercy rule victory.

Nicole King (Front Royal, Va./Warren County) started the game for New Haven and threw two 1/3 innings. Brittany Scott (Buena, N.J./Buena Regional) pitched the final two 2/3 innings and earned the win, allowing two hits and striking out one. The rookie improved to 3-1 on the season.

Along with Gelardi and Reed, the UNH bats were led by Meghan Chamoff (Roslyn Heights, N.Y./Herricks) with two hits and one run in three at-bats. Jess Spivey (Holland, Pa./Council Rock) went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run as well.