SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College softball team split its Northeast-10 Conference and home opener with the University of New Haven on Friday, March 24, winning 3-2 and falling 7-6 at Judy Groff Field.
AIC is now 3-12 overall and 1-1 in the NE10.
The Chargers struck first with a run in the third but the Yellow Jackets tied the game up an inning later. Alexis Jimenez beat out a sharply hit grounder to third, and was lifted for pinch runner Laila Cofone. She advanced to second on a groundout and to third on a wild pitch, coming home when Brianna Harzula smacked a grounder through the right side.
In the sixth, the Chargers retook the lead with a trio of singles to plate a run, but AIC was able to smother the rally from there with a foul out and a ground out. Jimenez, who had moved from first to the circle in the fifth, helped her own cause with a leadoff single. Kodi Gora followed with a hit to center and Harzula walked to load the bases. Head coach Shalise Tolentino then made the biggest move of the day, electing to send Taylor Murphy to the dish, and the pinch hitter delivered, smacking a two-run single to center to score Gora and Jimenez.
The Chargers put the tying run in scoring position in the seventh with a single and a swipe, but Jimenez was able to get out of the jam thanks to a tremendous diving stop at second base by Mackenzie Berman, who was able to fire to first to end the frame and the game.
The offenses really came alive in the first frame of the second contest. The Chargers opened the scoring with two home runs, a three-run shot and a two-run blast that made it 5-0 before AIC could pick its bats back up.
However, when the Yellow Jackets did, they came all the way back. Destiny McGrath was hit by the first pitch of her at-bat, and Abigail Wells followed with a walk. Berman was also plunked, loading the bases for Victoria Andrade, who singled into the right-center gap to score Wells and McGrath. Jimenez then flew out to right, bringing Berman in.
AIC reloaded the bases, as Leah Twyman then singled and Harzula was hit by a pitch. Murphy walked, pushing Andrade home, and Twyman came home on a flyout in foul ground by Samantha Sanchez. Berman and Andrade combined to give AIC the lead in the next frame as Berman smoked a double into the gap in left-center and Andrade singled immediately after to bring her home.
However, the Chargers were able to tie the game on a solo home run in the fifth, and took the lead back in the sixth. AIC put runners on in the sixth and seventh but could not score, and had to settle for the series split.
The Yellow Jackets continue their homestand Sunday, March 26 beginning at 12:30 p.m. against Southern Connecticut State University.
