NORFOLK, VA. – The Hartford softball team opened up its 2022 campaign today with a doubleheader against Norfolk State University. The Hawks were involved in two nail-biters against the Spartans. The Hawks fell to NSU in game one 5-4 before playing nine innings in game two, eventually falling to the Spartans, 3-2. Senior Julianna Kocenski had a stellar outing inside the circle in the final game. 
 
HARTFORD 4, NORFOLK STATE 5
The Hawks and Spartans were locked in a pitching duel between junior Caylee English and Joanna Vallejo of NSU, as neither offense would get going until the fourth inning. Kocenski opened up the scoring for the Hawks, launching a solo home run over the left field fence in the top of the fourth. English quieted any sense of an answer from the Spartans in the bottom half. The offensive surge in the top of the fifth inning vaulted the Hawks to a commanding 4-0 lead. Led off with a double by senior Paige Fedak, followed by a RBI triple by sophomore Chandler Mitchell, a first career collegiate hit and RBI by freshman Samantha Ganaden, and a liner down the left field line for an RBI double by senior Emma Curry. However, the Spartans would mount a comeback, scoring five unanswered runs in the final three innings to take game one, 5-4. 
 
HARTFORD 2, NORFOLK STATE 3 (9)
Game two would feature another pitching duel in the first four innings. The Spartans would open up the scoring in the third, taking the lead over the Hawks 1-0.  Hartford would answer back, scoring in the top of the fourth, tying the game up at one with an RBI double by junior Mara Sczecienski. Neither team would mount any more offense due in part to Kocenski, who tallied seven total strikeouts over 8.1 innings while allowing just one earned run on seven hits. In the top of the eighth, the Hawks would regain the lead on a wild pitch bringing home Ganaden. The Spartans would answer right back in the bottom half sending the game into the ninth inning tied at 2-2. With the extra innings rule of placing the final batter from the previous inning on second for each team the Spartans were able to capitalize on keeping the Hawks scoreless in the top half, loading the bases and bringing home the winning run on a hit by pitch thrown by Kocenski. The Spartans finished the doubleheader sweep winning the second game, 3-2.
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• Freshman Olivia Wolk and Ganaden each recorded their first collegiate hit in the doubleheader
• Curry was perfect in game one, going 2-2 bringing home one of the Hawks' four runs on an RBI Double
• English (0-0) got the start in game one, allowing four earned runs on six hits, while striking out four in six innings thrown
• Junior Lauren Card (0-1) came in for relief of English in game one, allowing one earned run on two hits
• Kocenski (0-1) took to the circle in game two, throwing a complete game allowing just one earned run on seven hits, while fanning seven batters over 8.1 innings

 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford continues its 2022 slate with a stop in Dover, Del., for a three-game weekend series with the Hornets of Delaware State. Starting on Saturday, February 19, first pitch in game one is scheduled for 12 p.m.