The New Haven softball team concluded the 2024 season on Saturday in Rindge, N.H. for their final regular season doubleheader as they took on Franklin Pierce University. It has been a tough season for the Chargers as they looked to finish their season on a high note, but their offense was stalled as they scored just one run across the two games to finish the season on a 10-game losing streak and an overall record of 7-35 (3-19 NE-10).
Right-handed pitcher Breanna Kinney got the start for New Haven in game one and she finished the game throwing six strong innings, allowing just one run on two hits, two walks and added four strikeouts.
The only blemish on Kinney’s line was a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning off the bat of left fielder Bella Williams for the only run of the game.
New Haven tallied only two hits off right-handed pitcher Sabrina Gonzalez as designated hitter Brianna Trueman was the team’s first baserunner in the top of the second with a leadoff double into center field. She was then stranded at second base after three consecutive outs ended the threat and kept it a one-run game.
Kinney worked around trouble in the bottom of the inning after a walk and stolen base issued to right fielder Amy Jones put a runner in scoring position with just one out. She got out of the inning after a sacrifice fly and a lineout kept Jones at third.
The Chargers only other hit came in the top of the third as third baseman Ashley Veisz lined a single into right field and advanced to second on a groundout. Left fielder Stephanie Smith hit a ground ball to shortstop Lita Vorseth that was fielded cleanly and kept the tying run on base.
Neither team was able to scratch a run across as they entered the late innings and Franklin Pierce stayed clinging on to a 1-0 lead. Catcher Ashley Cangiano ripped a double into left field in the bottom of the sixth as the Ravens started a prime scoring chance to bring across an insurance run going into New Haven’s last chance to tie the game.
Kinney induced three straight weak outs to keep it a one-run game with the Chargers in an opportunity where one swing could send the game into extra innings. New Haven went down in order in the top of the seventh as they fell to the Ravens for their ninth straight loss.
Right-handed pitcher Viana McKinley started on the mound for the Chargers in game two and turned in a strong outing. She finished the game with 6.2 innings and gave up two runs on four hits, three walks and added four strikeouts.
McKinley and Franklin Pierce right-handed pitcher Samantha Sylvester traded scoreless innings through three as neither team made anything of their scoring chances.
New Haven struck first in the bottom of the fourth after Trueman started the inning with a one-out triple into right field and scored on a single by first baseman Meg Anderson.
McKinley worked around a single in the bottom of the fourth and retired the side in order in the fifth as the Chargers held on to the one-run lead.
A leadoff walk started off the bottom of the sixth with a baserunner for Franklin Pierce before Williams reached on a fielder’s choice to set up a prime scoring chance for the Ravens with runners on first and second with just one out.
An error and a stolen base allowed the runners to advance and gave the Ravens a chance to take the lead late and break the game open. Third baseman Haley Bigwood tied the game at one with a sacrifice fly to left field, but McKinley recorded a huge strikeout to end the threat and keep the game tied at one.
After going down in order in the top of the seventh, the Chargers needed a scoreless bottom of the inning to send the game into extras. After two quick outs to start the inning, center fielder Andie Anderson lined a double into left, followed by a walk-off single off the bat of second baseman Molly Magnette that sealed the dramatic 2-1 win for Franklin Pierce.
With the losses, New Haven officially closed their book on the 2024 season as they look to rebound in 2025 and make a return to the Northeast-10 (NE-10) playoffs. For more information about the team and the program, please visit NewHavenChargers.com.
