THE BASICS:
RESULTS: Game 1: Bryant 4 Hartford 2
Game 2: Bryant 8 Hartford 7
RECORDS: Hartford (5-10) Bryant (6-17)
LOCATION: Hartford Softball Field (West Hartford, Conn.)
THE LEAD:
The University of Hartford softball team fell short in a pair of heartbreakers against Bryant on Sunday afternoon in West Hartford.
Freshman
Danielle Rocheleau ripped her four homerun of the season in game one, while senior
Elizabeth Newkirk went 4-for-5, hitting a pair of double, driving in one and scoring once in game two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
- After a quiet opening two frames from both teams, the Hawks struck first as freshman Lily Sencer worked a walk and later scoring after stealing second and advancing to home on the throw.
- The Bulldogs responded in the next inning off a one-out solo home run, and later scoring another off a Hawks throwing error, putting Bryant up, 2-1.
- Bryant posted two more runs in the eight off two hits in the fifth, extending its lead to 4-1.
- Rocheleau brought the Hawks back within two with one swing of the bat, ripping a homer to center, cutting the Bryant lead to 4-2 but the Hawks ultimately couldn't overcome the deficit.
Game 2
- Freshman Lily Sencer opened game 2 with a leadoff single up the middle, stealing second and advancing to third when Rocheleau grounded out to the pitcher. Newkirk made the most of the opportunity, lacing a double to left and driving Sencer in, putting the Hawks up 1-0.
- The Bulldogs scored one in the third and fifth to take a 2-1 lead before sophomore Jillian Denton, who pitch ran for sophomore Eliza Bomhardt, stole home to knot the game back up at 2.
- Bryant recorded two home runs in the sixth, lacing a homer to right and one inside the park home run, to retake the lead, 4-2.
- Bombhart quickly tied the game back up in the bottom half of the sixth, ripping a two-run single up the middle, drawing the Hawks even at 4.
- After a scoreless seventh inning, the Hawks and Bulldogs both scored two runs a piece in the eighth inning, forcing another extra inning.
- A Bulldog RBI double and SAC fly in the bottom of the ninth gave them the lead again at 8-6. The Hawks threatened in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. Junior Kylie Dazalla drove in freshman Nicolette Barranger, cutting the lead to 8-7 but the Hawks couldn't overtake the Bulldogs, dropping game 2.
NEXT ON TAP:
The Hawks will be back in action when they host Brown on Tuesday afternoon.