THE BASICS:

GAME 1 RESULT: Hartford 4, Bowling Green 2
GAME 2 RESULT: Southern Illinois 5, Hartford 0
LOCATION: Clearwater, Fla.
RECORDS: SIU (12-7), Hartford (2-15), Bowling Green (10-10)

THE LEAD:
The Hartford softball team split in the second day of its Spring Break trip, earning a 4-2 win over Bowling Green before falling to Southern Illinois 5-0 later in the day.
Danielle DeMarco hit her third home run of the year in the victory in game one. SIU's Nicole Doyle delivered a no-hitter, striking out seven, in the second game of the day.

GAME 1: HARTFORD 4, BGSU 2
DeMarco's solo home run in the fourth put the Hawks on the board, and a three-run fifth lifted Hartford to the victory. DeMarco drove in another run in the fifth, while Alex Saharek drilled a two-run double in the frame.
Lexi Wilkerson collected the win, scattering five hits and striking out six to earn her second win of the year. Braiden Dillow was carded with the loss out of the bullpen, giving up three runs in 1 2/3 innings of work.

HOW THEY SCORED, GAME 1:
• BGSU got out to a 1-0 lead in the first with a Marisa Shook RBI single.
• The score remained there until the top of the fourth, when DeMarco drilled a solo shot to lead off the frame.
• Hartford took its first lead with DeMarco's RBI single to score Sawyer Fried in the top of the fifth.
• After Marisa Ferguson walked, Saharek drilled a double to plate DeMarco and Ferguson to make it 4-1 later in the inning.
• BGSU got an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth on an error committed on a stolen base.
• Wilkerson stranded two runners in the sixth and one in the seventh to hold on for the victory.

GAME 2: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 5, HARTFORD 0
Doyle surrendered just a walk in earning a no-hitter for her first win of the season. Merri Ann Patterson hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to spoil a solid day from Bianca Ross in the circle.
Ross scattered seven hits and a walk, striking out three to be credited with the loss. Shaye Harre had two hits as well for SIU.
 
HOW THEY SCORED, GAME 2:
• SIU used small ball to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, culminating with Harre's RBI single.
• The Salukis made it 2-0 in the second when Jessa Thomas singled home Harre.
• The score remained that way until the bottom of the sixth as both pitchers settled in.
• SIU closed out the scoring with Patterson's three-run homer with two outs in the sixth. 


UP NEXT:
Hartford will wrap up its weekend against UWGB at 11:15 on Sunday morning in Clearwater. Updates will be provided as they become available on HartfordHawks.com and via Twitter (@HartfordSB).