SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The University of Hartford dropped their first two games of the 2015 season falling to Appalachian State, 7-2, and USC Upstate, 9-0, in the first day of the Adidas Winthrop Tournament. Redshirt-junior Peyton Fisher led the Hawks on the day with a .500 batting average on three hits including a solo homerun.

Hartford was outhit, 11-5, in the opening game as Appalachian State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning and never looked back.  The Hawks managed to grab one run back in the bottom half of the frame on Fisher's second hit of the game, a lead-off solo home run, but the Mountaineers extended their advantage to four at 5-1 with two more runs the next inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, freshman Elizabeth Newkirk's infield single with two outs closed the gap to three runs as it brought home Alex Saharek, who singled to centerfield to lead off the bottom of the fourth. That would close out the scoring for Hartford, though, as it was held to just one more hit for the remainder of the game. During that stretch, Appalachian added two more runs to its total to push its advantage to 7-2.

Sarah Warnock doubled and homered for Appalachian State, collecting three RBI while scoring two of her own.  Bianca Ross earned her first career start for Hartford, conceding five earned runs on seven hits while fanning three in 3.2 innings. The Mountaineers used a rotation of three pitchers, with starting hurler Vanessa Ciocatto earning the win after going 4.0 innings and allowing one earned run.

In the second game of the day, the Hawks were mercied through five innings, dropping a 9-0 decision to USC Upstate.  Fisher led the Hawks with a single to the third base side in the third inning for the only hit allowed by the Spartans.

USC scored two runs in each of the first two innings before breaking open a four run third inning to put the Spartans ahead by eight.  Upstate sealed the game with a one-run fourth inning as the Hawks were unable to keep the game alive, being shutout in the top of the fifth.

Sophomore Lexi Wilkerson and Ross took over the pitching duties against USC Upstate making appearances in two innings a piece. The duo allowed the Spartans to record 11 hits and eight earned runs with just two walks over four innings.

The Hawks will continue play in the Adidas Winthrop Tournament with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon taking on Wagner at noon and Winthrop at 2 p.m.