WEST HARTFORD, CT ? The University of Hartford softball team split a doubleheader against Holy Cross on Wednesday afternoon at the UH Softball Field, falling 4-1 in the first game before giving head coach Todd Randall his 200th career win with a 10-2 victory in five innings in the second game.
Hartford's bats came alive in the second game with 13 base hits. Senior Brie Hout picked up her first win of the season in the circle with a five-inning, complete-game effort. She gave up two runs, both unearned, on three hits while striking out a season-high seven batters.
Hartford (16-17 overall) scored two runs in the first inning as Holy Cross starter Melissa Pivonka walked five of the first six batters she faced. The Hawks then broke open the game with seven runs in the second inning, pounding out eight hits and driving Pivonka from the game. Hartford batted around in the frame and got doubles from sophomores Amanda Sais, Lindsey Anrico and freshman Ann Kyzer. Sais and Kyzer each drove in a run while Anrico plated two, and senior Kristie Rochette also drove in a pair of runs with a base hit.
Hout cruised through the first four innings and only hit trouble in the fifth. Holy Cross (4-31 overall) scored two runs in the inning and benefited from a pair of Hartford errors in the field. The Hawks led 9-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but leadoff singles by freshman Amanda Dilworth and Sais put runners at the corners for Rochette, who singled up the middle to drive in the final run and ended the game due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Rochette went 2-for-3 with three RBI in the game while Sais went 3-for-3 with one RBI. Dilworth and Anrico also finished with a pair of hits each while every starter but one recorded a hit. Pivonka took the loss and dropped to 1-14 on the season. She gave up 10 runs on 10 hits in 1.1 innings and walked five while striking out one.
In the first game, Hartford finished with eight hits but left 10 runners on base. The Hawks' inability to score runs wasted a fine effort from freshman pitcher Brittney Stratton, who struck out a career-high 13 batters over seven innings. She allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and dropped to 9-8 on the season.
Stratton's only bad inning was the third, as Holy Cross hit her up for a pair of runs on four hits. Beth Richard led off with a single and later scored on a single by Sheena Stangler. Natalie Cruz followed with an RBI double down the right field line that scored Stangler as the Crusaders jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Holy Cross added a pair of runs in the fifth thanks to a Hartford fielding error to go up 4-0. The Hawks threatened in the fifth with the bases loaded and only one out, but Crusaders' starter Lindsey MacNeil got out of the jam by getting Rochette to line into a double play. Hartford got a run back in the sixth on an RBI double by Kyzer but couldn't get another hit with runners at second and third and no outs.
MacNeil improved to 1-3 on the season and gave up one run on eight hits over seven innings while striking out eight. Jayme Elliott and Stangler each finished with two hits for the Crusaders.
Hartford will next play a three-game weekend series at the University at Albany. The Hawks and Great Danes will open the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 21 at 1 p.m.
