BALTIMORE, Md. –The Hartford softball team split a doubleheader with UMBC, 0-5 and 8-1, in America East play on Wednesday afternoon. Julianna Kocenski picked up her first win of the season, pitching a complete game during game two.
 
With the split, the Hawks move to 4-9 on the season and 2-9 in the America East, while the Great Danes sit at 17-10 overall and 6-4 in the America East. 
 

GAME ONE: UMBC 5, HARTFORD 0
UMBC jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, scoring the games' opening run in the first inning. Sophomore Caylee English would respond well, not allowing the Retrievers to add onto their lead until the fourth inning, where UMBC extended its advantage to 2-0. The Retrievers would score three more runs in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. The Hawks would look to quickly respond, getting runners on first and second after Lily Sencer hit a double to lead off the sixth before Danielle Rocheleau drew a walk, but the deficit would prove too much as UMBC took game one, 5-0.

GAME TWO: HARTFORD 8, UMBC 1
The Hawks would strike early in game two, taking a quick 1-0 lead after the first inning. Chandler Mitchell led off the game with a single and stole second to get in scoring position. Two batters later, Julianna Kocenski ripped a single up the middle, allowing Mitchell to score after a catcher's interface call by the home plate umpire. Hartford would add onto their lead the following inning, exploding for four runs in the second. Kelsey Galevich, Samantha Nagel, and Emma Armstrong all got on base to start off the inning before Mara Sczecienski hit a two-RBI single up the middle, plating Galevich and Nagel. Sencer would reload the bases with the next at-bat, laying down a perfect bunt, allowing Rocheleau to rip a two-RBI double down the left-field line to extend the Hawks lead to 5-0. The game would quiet down after the opening innings, as Kocenski pitched a gem inside the circle for the Hawks, allowing only two hits in the first six innings. Hartford would put the final nail in the coffin in the seventh. Emma Curry would draw a walk with one out before Galevich launched a bomb over the left-center fence to extend the Hawk's lead to 7-0. Nagel would get on base in the following at-bat, eventually scoring off a throwing error by UMBC to give Hartford an 8-0 lead. UMBC would score one run in the bottom half of the seventh, but the Hawks took game two, 8-1, and split Wednesday's doubleheader.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
·       Caylee English (2-4) started inside the circle in game one, allowing five earned runs while striking out one batter to pick up the loss
·       Sencer and Rocheleau both hit doubles during game one
·       Julianna Kocenski (1-4) earned the start in game two, allowing one run off four hits while tallying one strikeout to pick up her first win of the season
·       Sczecienski, Kocenski, and Nagel all had two hits in game two to lead the Hawks
·       Sczecienski, Galevich, and Rocheleau recorded two RBI each in game two
·       Galevich went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate in the second game, drawing two walks
 
 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks return to West Hartford for a three-game series against UMass Lowell on May 4-5. Hartford was originally scheduled to face the River Hawks in a three-game set on April 17-18. Tuesdays' single game is set to begin at 3 p.m.
 
 
For more information on the Hartford softball team, stay with HartfordHawks.com for updates and follow the team on social media (Twitter | Instagram | Facebook).