GAME #1 - BOX SCORE
GAME #2 - BOX SCORE
West Hartford, Conn. – The Hartford softball team (5-32 overall) split a Sunday doubleheader against the Manhattan Jaspers (4-34 overall) dropping the first game by a 5-1 decision before defeating the visiting team by a 5-3 margin in the second game, snapping what was a 23-game losing skid. Junior third baseman Melani Maxwell led the Hawks on Sunday with three RBIs on 2-of-5 hitting.
Maxwell was one of two Hawks to record multiple hits over the two games, with sophomore first baseman Chelsey Mooney leading all Hawks hitters with three total, two of which were two baggers. One of Maxwell's two hits also went for two bases, while five other Hawks all finished with one hit apiece, 10 total as a team over the two games.
Rookies Eve Clausen and Ana Alberti earned the starts for Hartford, with Clausen suffering the loss in game one and Alberti earning the victory in the nightcap. Clausen pitched 3.2 innings in the opening game allowing five runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks. Alberti pitched four innings in game two and allowed three runs, one earned, on three hits and a walk. Each finished with one strikeout.
Senior hurler Siera Sheehan saw relief work in each game, pitching 6.1 total innings without allowing a run on three total hits and three walks. She also struck out two batters.
The Hawks run in the first game came in the first inning, an answer to a two run first for the Jaspers. Kate Wacyk became the first Hartford runner of the day earning a free pass on a walk. After stealing second she was able to score on the Hawks first hit of the game, a single to right field from Jordan Haines. The Jaspers took that run back in the third inning and add two more insurance runs in the fifth inning en route to the 5-1 victory.
In the second game, all five of the Hawks runs came in the second inning after again allowing two first inning runs. The Jaspers added one more run in the fourth but Hartford held on for its first victory since March 18.
With one out in the second inning, the Hawks saw their next six batters reach safely, three on hits. Mooney provided the first hit of the inning, a double to center field and after a walk was issued to Erica Phelps, a single from Peyton Fisher loaded the bases. Maxwell took advantage of the three runners on, allowing all three to score on the second double of the inning, again to center field. Shannon Simpkins provided the fourth hit of the inning, a single up the middle, which allowed Maxwell to score the fourth run of the inning. The final run was able to score an error against the Jaspers pitcher.
The Hawks hit the road for the next action in Loudonville, N.Y. to take on the Siena Saints in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Hartford is 5-2 against Siena in a series that dates back to May 2, 1995.
