WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford softball splits with Binghamton Friday afternoon, taking game one, 6-4, and falling in game two, 7-3, in America East action.

PHOTO GALLERY
 
Freshman Haley Cassidy blasted her fourth home run of the season, as the Hawks improve to 17-24 overall and 4-9 in the America East. Sophomore Makayla Alvarez finshed the afternoon with a home run and three RBI, as the Bearcats improve to 15-23 on the season and 4-9 in the conference.
 
GAME ONE: HARTFORD 6 BINGHAMTON 4
After a scoreless first inning, Cassidy stepped in and smashed a home run to left field, giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
 
Hartford added to its lead in third inning, starting with a sacrifice fly to left field by freshman Paige Fedak, plating sophomore Lily Sencer and advancing sophomore Niolette Barranger to second. Barranger then came around to score on a throwing by the catcher, pushing the Hawks' advantage to three.
 
Binghamton managed to close within one run in the top of the fourth before Hartford answered with three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded, sophomore Kiana Harris scored the first of the three runs, taking advantage of an error by the shortstop to come across. Barranger followed up that run with a walk, bringing Wilton across and then sophomore Danielle Rocheleau capped off the scoring with a sacrifice bunt, plating junior Amber Mianti and making the score 6-2
 
The Bearcats responded with two more runs in the sixth, but could not complete the comeback, as Hartford took the series opener, 6-4.
 
GAME TWO: BINGHAMTON 7 HARTFORD 3
The Bearcats controlled game two from the jump, storming out to a 7-0 lead through six innings. The Hawks, however, began to chip away in the bottom of the sixth with two runs, starting with a RBI triple by freshman Emma Curry, plating senior Kylie Dazalla. Mianti then brought Curry across for the second run, legging out a single to the shortstop, making the score 7-2.
 
In the seventh inning, Hartford loaded the bases with one out. Dazalla stepped into the batter's box and grounded out to the third basemen, but brought Barranger in from third to cut Binghamton's advantage to four (7-3). The Bearcats would however get the final out of the inning to take game two, 7-3.
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• Freshman Julianna Kocenski (11-13) hurled her 14th complete game of the season in game one, scattering six hits over seven innings, allowing two earned runs with four strikeouts
• Rocheleau continues to creep closer to 100 career-hits, pushing her career total to 96 on the day
• With Curry's triple in game two, Hartford now leads the America East with 11 on the season
• Hartford now has 17 wins on the season for its largest win total since 2013 (21)

 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford wraps up its final home America East series of the season against Binghamton on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.