KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The University of Hartford softball team completed play at the Rebel Spring Games, going 3-9 in the Sunshine State. After a 0-6 start to the season, the Hawks picked up their first win on Tuesday with an 8-4 defeat of Fairleigh Dickinson. Hartford went on to earn a 3-2 win against Army on Thursday and slammed St. Peter's on its final day with a commanding 11-0 victory on Sunday.

Sophomore Nicole Springer led the Hawks during the spring break trip, pounding out 14 hits, including four doubles, in 37 at-bats. She drove in nine runs and scored four times. Classmate Kate Wacyk also had a strong performance at the plate. The utility player started and played in all 12 games, hitting at a clip of .367 with 11 hits, eight runs scored and nine RBI. In addition, Wacyk belted out three home runs and finished with a pair of stolen bases.

The Hawks make their home debut on Wed., Mar. 23 when they welcome non-conference opponent Iona to West Hartford for a doubleheader. The Hawks continue their homestand with their America East opener, a three-game series with Binghamton that kicks-off with a twinbill on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) and concludes with a single game on Sunday (12:00 noon).

MARCH 13 | GAME ONE: Yale 7 – Hartford 6
BOX SCORE

In the opening game contest of the Rebel Spring Games, Hartford dropped a 7-6 decision to fellow Nutmeg State opponent Yale on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first however Yale answered in its second at-bats, pushing five runs across the plate. Each team traded runs in the third and fourth frames to bring the score to 7-5 before the Hawks added one to their run in the bottom of the fifth. With runners in scoring position in the final two frames, Hartford was unable to scratch the game-tying run across the scoreboard. The Hawks were led by junior Shannon Simpkins and sophomores Jordan Haines and Kate Wacyk who each collected a pair of hits. Wacyk, who scored once, also drove in a pair of runs.

MARCH 13 | GAME TWO: Hartford 9 – Rider 10 (11 innings)
BOX SCORE

The Hawks fell in 11 innings to Rider by a 10-9 final in Sunday's nightcap. Jen Steward broke a 9-9 deadlock with an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th to give Rider the win over Hartford. Designated player Nicole Springer led the Hawks with three hits, including one double, while scoring three times and driving in four runs. Hartford built a 3-0 lead before the Broncs got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third on a throwing error and knotted the game at three in the fifth on a Steward RBI and an RBI double from Kehli Washington. In the top of the eighth, Hartford scored three times, first using a throwing error followed by Springer's RBI double and a ground out to plate the runs. Rider again answered in the bottom of the frame as Heather Muscara drove in one run and Alyssa Paul retied the game with a two-out, two RBI single. The Hawks again cashed in on a Broncs' error and a pair of hits to take a 9-6 advantage in the top of the ninth. A sacrifice bunt off the bat of Erica Phelps pushed Haines to third base, who then crossed home plate on a fielding error. With two outs, Springer muscled a base-hit to right center, scoring Simpkins who reached base on an infield single and Genevieve Morneau-Vaillancourt. Rider again tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single, an RBI groundout and another RBI single.

MARCH 14 | GAME ONE: Youngstown State 5 – Hartford 1
BOX SCORE

In game one, the Youngstown State Penguins jumped on Hartford hurler Siera Sheehan for single runs in the first, second and fourth and added a pair of unearned runs in the top of the sixth to seal the game. Youngstown State pitcher Hana Somogyi did not allow an earned run against the Hawks and finished with five strike outs. Shannon Simpkins, Lauren Kamena, Nicole Springer and Melani Maxwell each collected hits for Hartford. Facing a 3-0 deficit entering the bottom of the fifth, Simpkins' awareness on the base paths allowed her to score the Hawks' lone run of the game. After beating out an infield hit to lead off the frame, the junior outfielder cashed-in on a throwing miscue by the Penguins. In scoring position, Simpkins advanced to third on an infield ground out to third base by Kamena and managed to cross the plate before teammate Kate Wacyk was caught stealing after working a walk off of Somogyi.

MARCH 14 | GAME TWO: Hartford 1 – Eastern Illinois 2
BOX SCORE

The Eastern Illinois Panthers got on the scoreboard first as junior Hailee Hanna plated classmate Ashley Anderton with a single down the left line in the bottom of the second. Hartford kept Eastern Illinois off the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth when Hanna led off the frame with a single to center field. Pinch-runner Jelly Brannick stole second, and following an outfield fly out, Melise Brown's single brought her home to give the Panthers a 2-0 advantage. Hartford responded with one final push as it scored a run in the top of the second. Amber Andrews led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on a sac-bunt off the bat of Kate Wacyk. Springer, the designated player, stepped up to the plate and ripped an RBI single to center field and advanced one extra base on the throw. With a runner in scoring position for the Hawks for just the second time in the contest, relief pitcher Reynae Hutchinson got the next batters out, preventing the Hartford comeback.

MARCH 15 | GAME ONE: Hartford 8 – Fairleigh Dickinson 4
BOX SCORE

Six Hawks connected for hits in Tuesday's opening game, an 8-4 defeat of Fairleigh Dickinson, with freshman Amber Andrews and sophomores Kate Wacyk and Nicole Springer recording multi-hit games. Springer finished 3-for-3 at the plate while Wacyk drove in five runs, a game-best, on a pair of home runs. Fairleigh Dickinson took a one-run advantage in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly however the lead was short-lived as Wacyk belted out the first of two long balls to put the Hawks ahead, 3-1. After exchanging runs, Fairleigh Dickinson went on to tie the game at 4-4 after five innings. Hartford then exploded for four runs in its final at-bats to go ahead, 8-4. Springer earned the win inside of the circle allowing two runs – one earned – on six hits. Three Knights saw action inside the circle with Bradac going 4.2 innings and suffering the loss. She allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out four.

MARCH 15 | GAME TWO: Butler 5 – Hartford 4 (8 innings)
BOX SCORE

Hartford fell behind to Butler, facing a 3-0 deficit after three innings. After getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single off the bat of Chelsey Mooney, the Bulldogs grabbed the run back in their next at-bats to again push their lead to three runs at 4-1. In the bottom of the sixth, the Hawks did all of their damage with two down and exploded for three runs to knot the contest at four runs apiece. With the bases juiced, Lauren Kamena earned a walk to plate Nicole Springer who reached base on a single to left field. Hartford plated two more runs on a single by Genevieve Morneau-Vaillaincourt, scoring Jordan Haines and Mooney. After exchanging zeroes in the seventh frame to send the game into extra innings, Butler used a sacrifice bunt and a single to plate Erin Jackson who was placed on second base to start the frame and take the 5-4 advantage. In Hartford's final at-bats, Maxwell advanced Springer to third on a sacrifice bunt however the Hawks could not advance the designated player 60 more feet. Mooney finished 2-for-4 in the contest, scoring once and driving in one more run.

MARCH 17 | GAME ONE: Hartford 3 – Army 2
BOX SCORE

Against the Black Knights, sophomore Kate Wacyk tied the game at 1-1 with a lead-off homer in the top of the fifth and went on to drive in the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth inning to help Hartford defeat Army by a 3-2 final. The third baseman finished a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate while crossing the plate once and driving in two runs. Melani Maxwell, a shortstop, also went 2-for-2 while scoring one run. Junior hurler Siera Sheehan earned her first win of the season inside of the circle. Sheehan went the distance, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits while fanning two batters.

MARCH 17 | GAME TWO: UW-Green Bay 5 – Hartford 2
BOX SCORE

The Phoenix scored a 5-2 victory over the Hawks in game two on Thursday. UW-Green Bay and Hartford were tied at one through the first inning as Shannon Simpkins led off the bottom of the frame with a single, stole second, and scored on a fielding error by the Phoenix centerfielder. Hartford broke open the deadlock in the bottom of the third inning again cashing in on a lead-off single off the bat of Simpkins, however UW-Green Bay belted out four runs in the top of the fourth to regain its lead and take the 5-2 advantage. Nicole Springer finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI while Simpkins was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Rookie pitcher Kaitlyn Meade suffered the loss in the circle, allowing five earned runs on six hits in seven innings.

MARCH 18 | GAME ONE: Houston Baptist 6 – Hartford 0
BOX SCORE

For the first time this season, the Hartford was held scoreless as Houston Baptist earned a 6-0 win over the Hawks in Friday's opening game. Kate Wacyk went 2-for-3 at the plate while Melani Maxwell and Genevieve Morneau-Vaillaincourt each connected for one hit. The Hawks and Huskies battled put zeroes on the scoreboard in the first three innings before Houston Baptist broke the game open in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs. The Huskies cushioned their lead in the sixth when they scratched two more runs across the plate and pushed the advantage to 6-0 with a two-run seventh inning. 
 
MARCH 18 | GAME TWO: Hartford 0 – Fairleigh Dickinson 3
BOX SCORE

The Hawks were shutout by Fairleigh Dickinson in the second meeting with the Knights by a final of 3-0 on Friday. Shaugnessy hurled a three-hitter in seven innings, recording two strikeouts, for FDU. Hartford managed just six base runners on the afternoon and just two Hawks advanced past first base in the outing. Amber Andrews, Nicole Springer and Melani Maxwell each notched hits on the afternoon to lead the Hawks.

MARCH 19 | GAME ONE: Hartford 11 – St. Peter's 0
BOX SCORE

In the final day of the Rebel Spring Games, Hartford pounded St. Peter's for an 11-0 win, scoring its third victory of the trip. Seven Hawks collected hits in the contest with Lauren Kamena, Nicole Springer and Jordan Haines recording multi-hit games. Hartford jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning behind an RBI single by Haines and a two-run single off the bat of Amber Andrews. The Hawks pushed their lead to 9-0 behind five runs in the third frame and cushioned their lead with single runs each the fourth and fifth innings. Kaitlyn Meade earned the win inside of the circle, throwing her first collegiate shutout and striking out eight in five innings of action.

MARCH 19 | GAME TWO: Bucknell 3 – Hartford 1
BOX SCORE

In its final game of the sunshine state, Hartford fell to Bucknell by a final of 3-1. The Hawks, who never led in the contest, scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth to tie the contest at 1-1. Bucknell however plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth and kept the Hawks off the scoreboard to earn the 3-1 defeat. Amber Andrews led the Hawks at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 while Nicole Springer drove in Hartford's lone run when she dribbled a one out single down the middle of the infield to plate Kate Wacyk who doubled in the previous at-bat. Hartford caught a glimpse for a comeback in its final frame with two outs. Genevienve Morneau-Vaillaincourt singled and reached scoring position on Andrews' base hit, however the Hawks were unable to plate any more runs in the outing.