Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
MANHATTAN, N.Y. – In its 2011 season opener, the University of Hartford softball team dropped a doubleheader at Manhattan College on Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks fell 10-2 in game one before suffering a 9-1 loss at the hands of the Jaspars in the nightcap.
Junior Shannon Simpkins combined to finish 3-for-6 with one run to lead the Hawks on the afternoon while rookie Chelsey Mooney collected a pair of hits in the opening game.
Manhattan took a quick lead in the season debut, scoring two runs in the first frame on a single by Valasquez that plated Evagenlista, who was hit by a pitch, and Donnelly, who reached base on a walk. Lauren Kamena responded, powering a long ball out of the park to get the Hawks on the board in the top of the third. The Jaspars broke the game open in the bottom of that inning, however, when they rallied for four runs behind a three-run bomb by Rampino and a solo shot by Velasques.
The Hawks managed to push one more run across the plate in the top half of the fourth inning. With two down, sophomore Kate Wacyk worked a walk off of Manhattan hurler Sullivan. Rookie second baseman Amber Andrews laced a liner down the left field line, scoring the speedy Wacyk from first to bring the score to 7-2.
The Jaspars went on to plate three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing the eight-run mercy rule to take effect. Siera Sheehan earned the start for the Hawks, throwing for 4.0 innings. The junior struck out one batter and allowed nine earned runs. Sullivan, who recorded five strike outs, allowed just two earned runs in five innings of work.
In the nightcap, the Hawks managed to score just one run. Simpkins led off the game with an infield single, and advanced to two more bases on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Kamena. Following a ground out, an error by Jaspar second baseman Bowen allowed Simpkins to cross the plate.
Hartford kept the Jaspars off of the scoreboard in their first two at-bats. Manhattan worked freshman hurler Kaitlyn Meade in its first at-bats using back-to-back singles to place runners on first and second. The Hawks' defense prevented any damage on the scoreboard as Meade struck out a pair of batters and forced Rahey into a fly out to centerfield. In the second frame, Hartford put Manhattan down one, two, three.
The Jaspars did their damage in the final three innings, using a two-run third inning to gain their first lead in the game and a single run in the fourth to push their advantage to 3-1. Manhattan put the game out of reach in the fifth, scoring six runs to take a 9-1 advantage.
In her first collegiate start, Meade threw 4.1 innings, allowing nine runs – five earned – while fanning three batters.
Hartford continues its season by making its seventh-straight trip to Kissimmee, Fla. for the Rebel Spring Games. The Hawks are slated to play 12 games during its six-day visit to the Sunshine State, kicking off on March 13 with match-ups against Nutmeg State opponent Yale and Rider. Highlighted by the program's first-ever meetings with Eastern Illinois, Houston Baptist and Bucknell, the Scarlet and White will also take on Youngstown State, Butler, Fairleigh Dickinson, Army, UW-Green Bay and Saint Peter's before the conclusion of the Florida trip.
