THE BASICS:

SERIES INFORMATION: Hartford Hawks (6-14, 0-3 AE) vs. UMass Lowell (8-17, 2-1 AE)
TIME: Saturday, April 7 at 1 p.m. (Doubleheader) and Sunday, April 8 at 12 p.m.   
LOCATION: River View Field (Lowell, Mass.)
COVERAGE: Live Stats | | Live Video | Twitter: @HartfordSB
 
FIRST PITCH
The University of Hartford softball team travels to Lowell, Mass. for its first #AESB road weekend series against the River Hawks.
 
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell has opened their 2018 season 8-17, taking their first #AESB series against UMBC last weekend, 2-1.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
The River Hawks have owned the new conference rivalry, taking 10 of the first 11 matchups.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Hawks fell in its #AESB opening series to Maine this past weekend. The Hawks forced their fourth extra-inning game on Saturday afternoon, as sophomore pitcher Isabella Gerone threw seven scoreless innings before the Black Bears scored a pair on the eighth to take the 2-0 decision.
 
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 continue their road trip with a stop at Fairleigh Dickinson for a twinbill on Wednesday afternoon.