BOX SCORE - COASTAL CAROLINA
BOX SCORE - TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA
CLEARWATER, Fla. – After a four-day break, the University of Hartford softball team returned to action on Friday at the University of Southern Florida Spring Break Tournament. The Hawks split a pair of games in their first day in the Sunshine State, scoring a 1-0 triumph over Coastal Carolina in the opening game before dropping a five-inning, 11-1 decision to Tennessee-Chattanooga in the nightcap.
Hartford moves to 3-7 overall.
In the opening game of the USF Spring Break Tournament, Hartford put just one run up on the scoreboard but behind a stellar performance from veteran pitcher Siera Sheehan, it was all the Hawks would need to claim the 1-0 victory over Coastal Carolina (20-6).
Sheehan scattered just five hits over seven innings while striking out four batters to claim her second shutout in as many outings and improve her overall mark to 3-1 this year. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, rookie Peyton Fisher provided all of the run support that the Hawks would need when her base hit to left field plated Amber Andrews from third.
At the plate, all but two batters in the Hawks' line-up collected base hits in game one. Coastal was paced by Kiana Quolas, who finished 2-for-4. Hurler Ashley Bagwell took the loss, finishing with eight strikeouts in six innings.
The Chanticleers, who left 12 runners on base in the outing, came up empty in their first at-bats after loading up the bases. Sheehan and the Hawks were quick to retire the first two batters they faced as Coastal's lead-off batter popped out to Kate Wacyk in the infield and Jazmin Daigle was forced into a fly out in right field. That quickly changed for Coastal when a pair of walks and a single would occupy all three bases. Sheehan easily got out of the jam however as she struck out Jessie Winans to end the inning without any damage.
In the top of the third, Coastal again juiced up the bases but wouldn't cash in, leaving all three runners stranded at the end of the frame. The Hawks would clamp down on defense down the stretch to hold on for the victory.
In game two, the Hawks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning but Chattanooga answered in the bottom of the opening frame and knotted the game at 1-1.
In their next at-bats, the Lady Mocs scratched three more runs across the plate to take the 4-1 advantage and cushioned their lead to five runs with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the third. Chattanooga kept its hot bats going in the bottom of the fourth as it pounded out five runs to push ahead at 11-1 and clinch the five-inning win.
Sophomore Amber Andrews and freshmen Devynne Butler and Jackie Kelly each notched hits for the Hawks, two of which came in the first inning. Sophomore Chelsey Mooney brought in the Hawks' lone run after earning a bases loaded walk off of Fuzzard, plating Butler who singled earlier in the frame.
The Hawks continue the USF Spring Break Invitational with two games on Saturday, starting with a 9:00 a.m. matchup against New England foe, Dartmouth. Hartford concludes day two at 1:45 p.m. when it faces Colgate, another opponent from the Northeast.
