In a matchup against the Saint Michael’s College Purple Knights, the Chargers softball team let key opportunities slip away and dropped both games of the doubleheader, 5-0 and 5-2, respectively.
In game one, New Haven gave away three runs in the first inning off of two early errors, digging a hole they couldn’t climb out of. Pitcher Breanna Kinney (3-14) worked to limit the damage after the shaky start, but the offense couldn’t get her any help. The Chargers put runners on and had chances including bases loaded in the third inning but left them stranded. Saint Michael’s pitcher Kate Parker (7-7) worked around six hits and four walks, keeping New Haven scoreless despite constant pressure. Every time the Chargers threatened, they came up empty, and it felt like the game was slipping one missed swing at a time. New Haven ultimately lost the opener by a final score of 5-0.
Game two looked like it could’ve been different for a while. After Saint Michael’s took an early 2-0 lead, New Haven answered back in the fourth inning when Rachel Krogman came through with a two-out, two-run single up the middle to tie the game. Pitcher Skylar Griffin (3-11) gave the Chargers a real shot, pitching tough into the late innings, but Saint Michael’s got to her in the seventh. A hit-by-pitch, a single and a two-run single from CJ Davidson flipped the game back to the Purple Knights. Before New Haven could get out of the inning, a Devens RBI double made it 5-2. There was no comeback left this time. The Chargers managed just one baserunner in the final frame.
Offensively, Krogman led the way, going 2-for-6 across the two games with two RBIs. Griffin also posted multi-hit days, but New Haven could not mount a comeback after leaving 15 runners on base over the doubleheader. Defensively, the Chargers tightened up after game one’s early mistakes, but by then the damage was done.
After the loss to Saint Michael’s, the Chargers have an overall record of 11-31 and 4-14 in conference play. For more about the New Haven softball team, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
