THE BASICS:

WEDNESDAY INFORMATION: Hartford Hawks (6-17, 0-6 AE) at Fairleigh Dickinson (9-18, 2-2 NEC)
TIME: Wednesday, April 11 at 2 p.m. (Doubleheader)
LOCATION: FDU Softball Field (Hackensack, N.J.)
COVERAGE: Live Stats | Twitter: @HartfordSB
 
THURSDAY INFORMATION: Hartford Hawks (6-17, 0-6 AE) at Holy Cross (7-20, 2-4 Patriot)
TIME: Thursday, April 12 at 3:35 p.m. (Doubleheader)
LOCATION: Freshman Field (Worcester, Mass.)
COVERAGE: Live Stats | Twitter: @HartfordSB
 
FIRST PITCH
The University of Hartford softball team hits the road for a pair of non-conference doubleheaders, taking on Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday and Holy Cross on Thursday.
 
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Fairleigh Dickinson has opened 2018 9-18 overall and splitting its opening pair of NEC doubleheaders with CCSU and Bryant.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Hawks own a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series. After defeating the Knights in the first three matchups, FDU took the next two meetings in 2011 and 2014 before the Hawks took a 6-5 decision in the Coppin State Eagle Classic earlier this year.  
 
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Holy Cross has opened their 2018 season, 7-20 overall and 2-4 in the Patriot League. The Crusaders have wins over Tennessee-Martin, Alabama State, Manhattan, Fordham, Detroit, and Lafayette.  
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Hawk owns a 21-10 advantage all-time against the Crusaders.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Hawks dropped all three games in their #AESB series against UMass Lowell this past weekend.
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore Eliza Bomhardt earned America East Player of the Week on March 6, for her performance at the Coppin State Eagle Classic. Bomhardt hit an impressive .500 (4-for-8) in the Hawks' 3-0 performance in the Coppin State Eagle Classic this weekend, knocking three extra-base hits while scoring four runs and adding a pair of RBI. Her go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning against Saint Peters on Saturday sealed the 8-5 win for Hartford.
 
LAST SEASON
The Hawks finished their 2017 season 4-45 overall and fell 0-16 in the America East. The Hawks finished strong, though, knocking off #3 seed Stony Brook, 2-1, in the first round of the America East Tournament. Sophomore Isabella Gerone gave a stellar performance in the circle, giving up just seven hits and two walks while not surrendering an earned run in the complete game.  
 
STAFF STRUCTURE
Head coach Angie Churchill joined the Hawks back in August 2018. She came to Hartford from Wagner, where she has led the Seahawks to back-to-back 20-win seasons. In addition to two years at Wagner, Churchill served as head coach at Division II Georgian Court University and Division III D'Youville College. A former captain for the University of Michigan as a player, Churchill also served as an assistant at the Division I level for the University at Buffalo and Ohio University.
 
Joining Churchill on the Hawks new-look staff is assistant coach Samantha Esque. Esque, also coming from Wagner, will serve as the Hawks pitching coach.
 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks will return home for an America East weekend series against UAlbany starting on Saturday.