WEST HAVEN – The No. 14 University of New Haven softball team added two more wins to their record on Saturday afternoon. The Chargers took two from NE-10 foe UMass Lowell to extend their winning streak to 18 and remain perfect in the Northeast-10 Conference. UNH rolled to a 10-0 win in game one. In game two, impressive defensive plays for the Chargers defined their 2-1 defeat over the River Hawks. New Haven improves to 22-2 overall and 12-0 in the conference, while the River Hawks slip to 12-16 overall and an even 5-5 in the NE-10.

Game One
The Chargers got a run in the first inning and kept the momentum in their favor as they picked up their first win of the day by a 10-0 margin. With Nicole Downs sitting in scoring position at second, Breanne Gleason knocked her in with a single to right field – the winning run.
Highlights of the shutout included pair of three-run home runs, one from Downs in the bottom of the second and the other produced by Gleason in the bottom of the fourth. Gleason’s homer allowed the Chargers to take the necessary lead to end the game in five innings.
Gleason was on the mound for the Chargers, allowing just one hit and four runners on base, while striking out six. She also led UNH at the plate, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

Game Two
The River Hawks found more success at the plate in game two, however notable defensive plays by the Chargers kept UMass Lowell off the board for most of the game.
UNH jumped out to the early lead with a run in the bottom of the second – this is the 10th time New Haven has lit up the board in the first inning. After Gelardi walked, Downs collected the first hit of the game with a double down the right field line. The River Hawks opted to intentionally walk Gleason to load the bases. However, the tactic was unsuccessful as the next batter, Meghan Walter, was walked allowing Gelardi to take home for the 1-0 lead.

Down by just one, the River Hawks found their offense in the second. Elyssa Boris led the inning off with a double to left field. After Ashley Daniels was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base, the Chargers managed an out off a caught foul ball. Rachel Guy then connected for a single to right field and the runners jumped on the crack of the bat, looking to even the score. However, Shannon Angehr in right field fired down to Allison Vaughn at the plate, freezing the base runners. Vaughn, realizing the situation, quickly tossed it to Downs who caught Boris at third. Downs continued the ball to shortstop Christina Gelardi who tagged out Daniels, who was racing back to second.

UMass Lowell tried to even the score in the fourth inning, but was unsuccessful once again. With the bases loaded and one out, Heather Ross hit the ball foul deep into the left field. Chelsea Harold opted to catch it for the second out and upon the catch, Alyssa Bryan went gunning for the plate from third. Harold threw it home where Vaughn put the tag on Bryan for the final out of the inning.

The River Hawks were finally successful in getting a runner past the plate in the top of the fifth inning to tie the score 1-1.
However, the Chargers returned the favor in the bottom of the stanza to preserve the lead through the fifth. Angehr led the inning off with a single through the middle and Harold moved her into scoring position at second with a sacrifice bunt. After Angehr swiped third on a pass ball, Downs drove her in on a single to right field.
UMass Lowell produced a hit in the seventh; however nothing came of it as the Chargers picked up their 22nd win of the season.
Downs and Vaughn both went 2-for-3 in game two, while Downs and Walters each tallied a RBI.

Gleason went the distance on the mound, collecting her 18th win in 2010, while striking out eight in the process.