THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Maine 6, Hartford 2
RECORDS: Hartford (6-12, 0-3 AE); Maine (12-14, 3-0 AE)
LOCATION: University of Hartford Softball Stadium (West Hartford, Conn.)
 
THE LEAD:
 
Maine completed a weekend sweep of the University of Hartford softball team on Sunday with a 6-2 win at the Hartford Softball Stadium. Senior first baseman Alex Saharek was perfect in four at-bats, while Danielle Rocheleau scored one run and knocked in another to pace the Hawks.

Maddie Decker recorded a pair of RBI while Annie Kennedy recorded her second win of the series for Maine after allowing two runs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Black Bears jumped out to a two-run lead in the first. Erika Leonard, who led off the game with a single, scored from third on a one-out infield single from Rachel Carlson. The early rally continued when Carlson snagged two bases on a passed ball before scoring on a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield.
• A four-run inning in the top of the fifth frame allowed Maine to extend its lead to 6-0. Opening the frame with a single and a two-bagger to force a pitching change, a fielder's choice followed by a throwing error by the Hawks' catcher brought in the first two runs of the stanza.
• Maine tacked on two more runs to continue its rally. Carlson recorded an RBI triple off relief pitcher Bianca Ross, a senior, before she came home on a sacrifice fly by Decker in the next at-bat.
• Freshman Melissa Pereira took over inside the circle for the Hawks, and after allowing Decker to score on a sacrifice fly, she prevented any more damage for the remainder of the game.
• The Hawks got two runs back in the bottom part of the inning, but were unable to come any closer. With two outs, sophomore Madison Hilimire launched a double down the left field line before scoring on a single through the middle of the infield by freshman Danielle Rocheleau. Advancing 60-feet on her base knock, she came in on a fielding error by Maine's second baseman.
• Saharek kept the rally going with a single to put runners on first and second, but relief pitcher Molly Flowers got Maine out of the jam by inducing a popup to end the frame.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE & NOTES:
 

• Kennedy allowed two runs – one earned – on eight hits and fanned four batters in 4.2 innings of work.
• Flowers tossed 2.1 innings in relief for the Black Bears, finishing with one strikeout.
• Sophomore Isabella Gerone suffered the loss for the Hawks, allowing four runs – two earned – on six hits.
• Pereira, who faced a 6-0 deficit with no outs in the fifth, recorded three scoreless innings to close out the game. She retired eight of the final nine Black Bears.

 
NEXT ON TAP:
The Hawks kick off a seven-game road trip with a pair of mid-week doubleheaders against Siena (Wednesday, April 4) and Fairleigh Dickinson (Thursday, April 5).