WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Freshman Mollie Verreault (Scarborough, Maine) hit a grand slam home run in leading the Assumption University softball team to a 6-5 win in the opening game of a doubleheader against New Haven on Sunday afternoon. The Chargers, however, regrouped and salvaged a split by taking the nightcap, 9-1, in five frames.

Game One: Assumption 6, New Haven 5

As a team, Assumption jumped all over Charger hurler Selena Aponte in the top of the first and took a quick 4-0 advantage on Verreault's first collegiate grand slam. Sophomore Lauren Geremia (North Providence, R.I.), senior Allison Ainley (Rehoboth, Mass.), and sophomore Summer Sheerin (Bridgewater, Mass.) all each singled before they all call home on Verreault's blast to put the Greyhounds in control.

New Haven (8-8, NE10 3-1) got on the board in the bottom of the first when Aponte drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs, but senior Erin Barry (Braintree, Mass.) settled in after that by inducing a groundout to herself to get out of the inning and then following up with three consecutive scoreless frames.

The Greyhounds padded their lead in their half of the fifth, as junior Jordan Dwyer (Coventry, R.I.) drew a leadoff walk and came home three plays later on a single to left by sophomore Corin Mahan (Abington, Mass.). Sheerin followed with a single to third, beating out the throw to first to keep the inning alive and scoring Mahan, and the visitors ended the frame up by five.

The Chargers, however, did not go down quietly and used a big sixth inning by scoring three times before an out could be recorded. Hailey Laforte rocketed a two-run homer to swing the momentum back to the hosts, making it 6-4 at the time, and an RBI single through the left side by Nahtali Simpson to plate Mya Case, who doubled to left center, made it a one-run game. The Greyhounds, however, got out of the jam by recording outs on three fielder's choice plays in the infield.

After the Greyhounds couldn't add to their lead in the top half of the seventh, the Chargers came up with one last chance to at least tie the score and gave the visitors a scare. Even though Barry induced two groundouts, LaForte reached on an infield single to bring up Case for the winning run. Case swung for the fences and sent a shot to dead center, but Dwyer was there to make the catch on the warning track to end the game.

Barry, who threw 155 pitches, earned the win in the circle for Assumption and improved her record to 5-5 this season. She struck out four, issued seven walks, allowed 10 hits, and gave up five runs which were all earned. Aponte suffered the loss for New Haven and dropped to 5-3 after giving up seven hits, six runs which were all earned, and issuing two walks. She fanned six.

Game Two: New Haven 9, Assumption 1 (5 Innings)

The second game started as a pitcher's duel until Samantha Hardwick (Albany, N.Y.) took a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left field for a solo shot. It was the sophomore's second hit and second homer of the spring.

New Haven, however, answered back with a big fourth inning. After seeing Verreault hit a grand slam in the opener, the Crusaders got one of their own with Laforte doing the damage with the bases loaded. The decisive hit came after Ashley Veisz put the hosts on the board with a sacrifice fly to right earlier in the frame.

The Chargers then ended the game early due to the eight-run rule by scoring four more times in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Case hit a hard ball that went off the Greyhound third baseman's glove. Bike, who registered an RBI triple earlier in the frame, scored on the play to seal the outcome.

Mia Iodice earned the win for New Haven and upped her record to 3-4. She struck out five, did not issue a walk, and allowed just three hits and one run which was earned. Sophomore Catherine Higgins (Medway, Mass.) was charged with the loss and fell to 0-4 for surrendering seven hits and five runs, which were all earned, while striking out two. She did not issue a walk.

Assumption (5-16, NE10 2-2) will remain on the road to next face American International College for a twinbill beginning at noon on Saturday, Apr. 2nd.