Avery Martin- Contributor
The Owls dominated the University of New Haven in a doubleheader at home on Wednesday, April 10.
Starting pitcher Jessica Perucki, a graduate, shut down New Haven in an almost-perfect game to win 4-0. In the second game, starting pitcher Ashley Lewis, a sophomore, brought the team a 3-0 victory. New Haven’s offense struggled against the Owl’s pitching and defense.
The wins come after a tough doubleheader loss against Assumption University and a doubleheader loss against Bentley University the weekend prior.
Perucki was unstoppable in game one, retiring the first 18 batters to face her. Her perfect game ended in the seventh inning. It was her second one-hitter this season.
“I thought it was a great game, coming off a tough weekend,” Perucki said. “We played well. We kind of picked up where we needed to be, and we strung some hits together and our defense was solid,” Perucki said.
Perucki did not just contribute on defense. She hit a two-run home run in the third inning of game one and another home run in the sixth inning of game two.
“I thought that was a superb pitching performance,” Head Coach Jillian Rispoli said. “Jess Perucki was absolutely on fire. She was hitting all of her spots; she was commanding the zone.”
First baseman Dominique DeLutri, a junior, scored an RBI in the first game and another in the second while left fielder Jordan Chamberlain, a sophomore, hit a double that scored a run.
“I thought we played very well, especially against a cross-town rival. The defense was amazing and our bats were on fire. We knew we had to come out strong, and we played very well as a team together,” DeLutri said.
Rispoli also praised the offense.
“Then our offense got off to a hot start by jumping on some early fastballs and being aggressive at the plate,” Rispoli said. “I think that just leaked through the rest of the offense. We got off to a great start and just kept it rolling.”
In game two, it was Lewis who kept New Haven from scoring. She gave up only two hits before Perucki came in to close the last two innings. Perucki similarly only gave up two hits.
“I felt good today, felt strong,” Perucki said. “The defense was backing me up, and that’s all I can really ask for as a pitcher is that the defense is there for me to support me.”
The Owls are back at home on April 13 against Southern New Hampshire University and on April 14 against Saint Anselm College. The next road game will be on April 17 at Adelphi University.
