WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –The Hartford softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader, 6-4 and 2-0, to visiting UMass Lowell on Tuesday afternoon.
 
With the losses, the Hawks fell to 4-11 on the season and 2-11 in the America East, while the River Hawks improved to 13-14 on the campaign and 9-6 the America East. 
 

GAME ONE: UMASS LOWELL 6, HARTFORD 4
UMass Lowell would strike early, tallying two runs in the opening inning. Hartford would try and respond quickly, plating two runners in the bottom half of the first, but could not capitalize on the scoring chance. The River Hawks would look to increase their lead in the third, loading the bases, but sophomore Caylee English would tally the final out and prevent UMass Lowell from extending its lead. The River Hawks would score one run in the fourth, followed by two in the sixth to take a 5-0 lead into the bottom half of the sixth. Hartford would mount a ferocious comeback in the bottom half of the sixth. Danielle Rocheleau led off with a single before Emma Curry got the Hawks on the board with an RBI double. Two batters later, Emma Armstrong would rip a single to left field, plating Curry, before Paige Fedak laid down a sacrifice hit to bring home pinch runner Zoe Truxon. Lily Sencer would keep the run parade going, hitting a single up the middle, which brought home Armstrong. Samantha Nagel would try and score on the play, but was thrown out at home. The River Hawks would score once more in the top half of the seventh, which proved to be enough as the Hawks could not muster anymore runs, falling, 6-4, in game one.

GAME TWO: UMASS LOWELL 2, HARTFORD 0  
UMass Lowell jumped out to another early lead in game two, securing a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Junior Julianna Kocenski would settle in after the opening inning, allowing only one hit and tallying five strikeouts in the next four innings. The Hawks would look to answer back in the second, getting runners on the corners, but could not capitalize and tie the game. The River Hawks would extend their lead to 2-0 in the top half of the fifth and hold on for the win, sweeping Tuesday's doubleheader.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
·       English (2-5) started inside the circle in game one, allowing four runs off 11 hits to pick up the loss
·       Lauren Card pitched three innings of relief in game one, allowing two earned runs on four hits
·       Rocheleau went 3-for-4 at the plate in game one
·       Kocenski (1-5) had a solid outing inside the circle in game two, striking out a season-high seven batters
·       Freshman Chandler Mitchell led the Hawks with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate in game two

NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks wrap up their three-game series against UMass Lowell with a single game at 3 p.m. tomorrow.