THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: Hartford 5, Holy Cross 3
RECORDS: Hartford (8-18, 0-6 AE); Holy Cross (8-21, 2-4 Patriot League)
LOCATION: Freshman Field (Worcester, Mass.)
 
THE BASICS:
 
Timely hitting led the University of Hartford softball team to a thrilling 5-3, nine-inning win at Holy Cross on Thursday afternoon. Pinch hitter Jennifer Johnson, who led off the final inning with a single to centerfield, scored the go-ahead run on a two-out RBI single from Danielle Rocheleau to break open the third tie of the game.   
 
Senior Bianca Ross, who held off any threat of a comeback by the Crusaders in the bottom of the ninth, earned the win in the circle after allowing one earned run in 3.2 innings of relief. Rocheleau finished with three RBI while sophomore Madison Hilimire knocked in two runs for the Hawks.
 
GAME ONE:

• Hartford drew blood first, scoring a pair of runs in the top part of the fourth inning to take the lead. With one out, Elizabeth Newkirk slammed a double to left field before senior Alex Saharek drew a walk.
• With freshman Kiana Harris pinch running for Saharek, junior Kylie Dazalla advanced each runner 60 feet on a ground out before Hilimire cleared the bases and gave the Hawks the lead on a base hit.
• But Holy Cross wouldn't allow the Hawks to stay ahead for long, as the Crusaders responded with two runs in the home half of the frame. With two outs, Behrens drove in two on a triple to draw the sides even.
• The Hawks broke open the stalemate and went ahead, 3-2, in the top of the seventh after rookie Nicolette Barranger singled, stole second and scored — all with two outs — on a Rocheleau base hit to right field. But a single to open the bottom of the frame would spoil Hartford's lead, as McCarthy, who led off with a single, scored on a passed ball with two outs to knot up the game again and force extra innings.
• After a scoreless eighth inning, Johnson got things going for the Hawks. Pinch hitting for sophomore Eliza Bomhardt, the rookie knocked a base hit to centerfield to lead off the inning before sophomore Amber Mianti walked to make it runners on first and second. After Holy Cross recorded a strike out for the first out, Barranger recorded the second out of the frame, but advanced each runner 60 feet. That set the scene for Rocheleau, as she drove in Johnson and Mianti to put Hartford up by two.
• Ross, who conceded a single to lead off the bottom of the ninth, induced three straight pop ups to seal the win for the Hawks. 

NEXT ON TAP:
The Hawks' busy week continues, as they return home to open a three-game America East set with UAlbany on Friday. First pitch from the UH Softball Stadium is set to be tossed at 4 p.m.