THE BASICS:


RESULT: Maine 8, Hartford 4
LOCATION: Hartford Softball Field (West Hartford, Conn.)
RECORDS: Maine (8-17, 3-0 AE); Hartford (3-29, 0-5)

THE LEAD:
Lexi Wilkerson and Elizabeth Newkirk each drove in two runs, but an opportunistic Maine offense led the Black Bears to an 8-4 victory on Sunday. It marked the series finale for the two teams.
 
Isabella Gerone had a strong performance out of the bullpen in the circle, surrendering just one run on four hits in 3 1/3 innings. Melissa Pereira was carded with the loss, but four of the 10 hits against her were bunt singles. Brittany Wallace also scored a pair of runs for the Hawks in the defeat.
 
Sarah Coyne, Rachel Harvey and Rachel Carlson delivered three hits apiece for the Black Bears in the win, with Harvey driving in a trio of runs and Carlson two. Coyne scored twice and Erika Leonard crossed the plate three times. Annie Kennedy was credited with the win after going 4 2/3 innings in the circle.

HOW THEY SCORED:
• Maine plated the first run of the game in the top of the first with a bases-loaded sac fly off the bat of Alyssa Derrick.
• The Black Bears tacked on two runs on two hits in the second, as Marisa Ferguson narrowly missed a diving stab and a pair scored on the double.
• Maine staged a two-out rally in the bottom of the third, beginning with a solo home run from Meghan Royle that was followed by four singles and a walk to plate four runs for a 7-0 lead.
• The Hawks got on the board in the top of the fifth, starting with an RBI single to left center off the bat of Newkirk.
• After a infield single loaded the bases, Wilkerson drilled a single to left center to score Wallace and Newkirk and cut it to 7-3 going to the bottom of the fifth.
• Maine tacked on a run on a pair of hits in the bottom of the frame to push the lead back to 8-3.
• Hartford staged a rally in the top of the seventh, plating a run on Newkirk's sac fly, but that was all as Maine emerged with the victory.
 
UP NEXT:
The Hawks have a midweek conference doubleheader approaching, with Stony Brook coming to town on Thursday, April 13, for a twinbill starting at 2 p.m. Live video and stats will be available on HartfordHawks.com.