Courtesy of University of New Haven Sports Information)
WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven softball team defeated Georgian Court University in two games Saturday in its 2012 home opener. The Chargers took the opening game 3-2 and capped the day with an 8-0, five-inning victory. The Chargers improved to 6-4 on the season, while the Lions fell to 10-6.
Game One
Georgian Court took an early lead in the first inning, scoring after a Brooke Hull double pushed #Rachel Ruch# (single) across the plate. In the third inning, the Lions started the inning with an Ashlynn Thompson double off of junior pitcher Alana Wesche (Oxford, Conn./Naugatuck). After advancing to third, Thompson scored on a Kelsey Cutler ground out to the pitcher. The Charger defense was able to hold the Lions to their 2-0 lead to end the inning.
The Chargers came back in the fourth inning, fueled by a leadoff double from Lindsey Courturier. Brenna Weidman (Holliston, Mass./Holliston / Utica College) entered the game as a pinch runner for Courturier, scoring when Shannon Angehr (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue ) pushed a single up the middle. Lucy Francisco (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence ), who went 4-for-4 in the game, also scored on Angehr’s hit to tie the game after she singled earlier in the inning. The Chargers took the lead in the sixth inning, scoring on a single hit by Francisco. She drove in freshman Sadie Redman (Bangor, Maine/Bangor), who entered the game as a pinch runner when the leadoff batter for the inning, Brooke Fisher (Erial, N.J./Camden Catholic), was hit by a pitch.
Alana Wesche (Oxford, Conn./Naugatuck) improved her record to 4-2 with the win, throwing all seven innings for the Chargers. She faced 29 batters, allowing two runs and striking out two.
At the plate, Francisco went a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run, while Angehr went 1-for-2 with two RBI.
Hull suffered the defeat in the circle as her record falls to 6-4 (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 K).
Game Two
New Haven stranded two Georgian Court runners on base in the top of the first and third innings. The Chargers left one on base in each of the first two innings, but exploded in the bottom of the third.
Shannon Angehr (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue ) recorded a one-out double to right field and the bases were soon loaded. Brandy Dianno (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) followed with a single and Lindsey Couturier (Dighton, Mass./Dighton Rehoboth Regional) hit a ball hard to third base and reached on a fielder's choice. On Couturier's at-bat, the third baseman attempted to hold Angehr at third base, but the indecision proved helpful as Dianno advanced to third and Angehr scored on the play. Brooke Fisher (Erial, N.J./Camden Catholic) reached on another muffed fielder's choice by the third baseman and the bases were loaded with one out. Lucy Francisco (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence ) drove in her second run of the day when she drew the ensuing walk. An infield-fly gave the Chargers their second out of the fifth inning, while freshman Erika Williams (Oneida, N.Y./Oneida) drove in the Chargers' third run with a single to right field. The runs kept coming when Gilly Childs (Los Angeles, Calif./Notre Dame Academy) hit a ball off the glove and threw the legs of the third baseman, two runs followed for UNH. The Chargers took a commanding 5-0 lead out of the third inning.
Both teams were scoreless in the fourth inning before UNH retired the Georgian Court side in the fifth inning. New Haven's game-winner came in the bottom of the fifth inning. In the first three batters, the Chargers loaded the bases. Back-to-back outs and Angehr stepped to the plate and drew a walk to walk in the Chargers' sixth run. Dianno them stepped to the plate and hit a two-out single to center field to score a pair of runners and give the Chargers the win in walk-off fashion.
Kelsey Malloy (Clarksburg, Mass./Drury) threw the complete game shutout for the Chargers. She struck out seven batters, walked two and allowed only two hits in her second win of the season.
Dianno went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run in game two. Francisco also went 2-for-2 with one RBI and two runs, while Angehr went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
The Lions immediately put these contests behind them as they focus on Sunday's CACC doubleheader at reigning conference champion, Dominican College. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM
