West Hartford, CT ? The University of Hartford softball team swept a doubleheader against Holy Cross in its home opener at the UH Softball Field on Wednesday. The Hawks picked up a 2-1 win in extra innings in the first game, and topped the Crusaders in the nightcap by a 2-1 final.
Sophomore Lauren Kamena led Hartford in the opening game of the afternoon, driving in the winning run on a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the eighth inning. She finished the game 1-for-3. Hartford pitcher Brittney Stratton earned her fourth victory of the season, giving up just one run on four hits in eight innings.
The Crusaders took an early 1-0 lead to kickoff the afternoon as sophomore Erin Fleming singled to drive home classmate Tiffany Medwid with one out. With the help of the Hawks' defense, Stratton successfully got out of the inning when Fleming was caught stealing second base and Keeley Seniuk grounded out to third base to end the top half of the frame.
Hartford put its first notch on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning. Junior Sara Messinger earned a two-out walk off Holy Cross hurler Katie Alexander. A single by left-handed hitter Amanda Sais through the right side of the field allowed Messinger to advance to second, who was driven home by a single to left field by catcher Ann Kyzer to tie the game at one run apiece.
The next four innings of the game remained at a deadlock, with Stratton and Alexander adding zeroes to the scoreboard to send the game into extra innings.
The international tie-breaker rule was instituted, with Crusader rookie Camille Trainor placed on second to open the top of the eighth. Trainor stole third, and the Crusaders found themselves with runners on the corners and one out after Sam Lendardt singled to third. With pinch hitter Dettey Audette at the plate, the Crusaders' attempt at a squeeze-play failed as Hartford catcher Lindsey Anrico chased down Trainor in an attempt to pick her off. The play was unsuccessful, however a poor base running decision by Lenhardt allowed Anrico to tag out in the third base line. The inning ended when Audette grounded out to Stratton.
Sais opened the bottom of the inning on second base, and advanced to third on a sac bunt by Kyzer. Kyzer reached second on a fielder's choice as junior Rachel Clonick was thrown out at first base. With one out, Kamena's sacrifice bunt plated Sais, the winning run.
Senior center fielder Kristen Cericola led the Hawks at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 in the game with two stolen bases. For the Crusaders, Fleming led the team with a 1-for-3 performance, including an RBI. Alexander pitched 7.1 innings for Holy Cross, recording three strikeouts while allowing two runs ? one earned ? on five hits. Alexander's overall record dropped to 0-1.
In the final game of the afternoon, rookie hurler Siera Sheehan picked up her second win of the season, giving up one run on five hits, while striking out five and walking one. The Hawks were led by juniors Kyzer and Messinger. The classmates finished 1-for-3 on the afternoon, driving in both of Hartford's runs.
The game remained deadlocked at zero as pitchers Sheehan and Audette battled through three and a half scoreless innings. Kyzer put the Hawks on the board in the bottom of the frame on a solo home run ? her first of the season. Hartford plated one more insurance run in the sixth inning when Messinger sent a ground ball up the middle of the infield, bringing home rookie Shannon Simpkins from second, who reached base on a fielding error and a stolen base.
The Crusaders refused to go down easily in their final at-bats as Nicole Ortiz singled to center field to open the inning. Mandy Correale grounded out to first, advancing Ortiz to second. With one out and a runner in scoring position, Sheehan struck out pinch hitter Courtney Nealon. An RBI double by Foley plated Ortiz. After intentionally walking Audette, Sheehan escaped the inning without anymore damage behind a stellar fielding play by Clonick at shortstop that reached first base b before Crusader Gwen Reimer to end the game.
The Hawks improve their overall record to 6-9 on the season, while Holy Cross drops to 6-14 on the season with the loss. Hartford will play its America East opener on Saturday, March 28 at the UH Softball Field against Vermont. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to being at 1 p.m.
