WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Hartford softball team split a doubleheader against Manhattan during its 2022 home debut this afternoon, winning game one, 6-3, while dropping game two, 3-2. With the split, Hartford remains at .500 with a 7-7 record, while Manhattan moves to 2-12.
GAME ONE: HARTFORD 6, MANHATTAN 3
Manhattan got off to a fast start, putting one run up on Hartford's starter,
Lauren Card in the first inning.
Kelsey Galevich answered in the bottom half with an RBI single up the middle to bring home
Samantha Ganaden and tie the game at one. Card settled in quickly, setting down the side in order in the second. The Jaspers regained the lead in the third off of two sacrifice hits, bringing the score to 3-1 in favor of Manhattan.
Caylee English entered the game in relief for Card in the top of the fifth. The Hawks offense poured it on in the bottom half, bringing home four runs in the inning to take the lead, 5-3. It all started with a double from
Chandler Mitchell who was later brought home with a sacrifice fly struck by
Olivia Wolk. Stepping up to bat,
Samantha Ganaden laced a double into the left center field gap to advance
Milena Wilton over to third base in prime scoring position. On a wild pitch thrown by Manhattan's pitcher, Wilton was able to capitalize on the mistake and tie the game up at three. A fielding error made by the Jaspers shortstop on a Galevich groundball gave the Hawks a 4-3 lead after Ganaden crossed the plate.
Samantha Nagel capped off the offensive onslaught with a double out to right center field to bring home Galevich, extending the lead to, 5-3. Manhattan looked to answer right away with a leadoff triple from Annie Moore. However, English was able to stifle the Jaspers' offensive hopes, striking out two of the next three batters to step up to the plate. Wolk would add one more run to the board with an RBI single in the bottom half of the sixth. The deficit would be too much for Manhattan to overcome as Hartford would take game one, 6-3.
GAME TWO: MANHATTAN 3, HARTFORD 2
The aces of their pitching staff,
Julianna Kocenski and Jessie Rising were dueling through five complete innings, allowing just one run each to cross the plate up to that point. Hartford would light up the board first after a single through the left side of the infield by Kocenski helped advance
Emma Curry to third base after drawing a walk to start off the inning. Coach Dudek drew up the perfect baserunning maneuver as Kocenski stole second while Curry advanced home on the throw, giving the Hawks an early, 1-0 lead. The Jaspers struck back bringing home one run in the top half of the third after an RBI single to center field by Annie Moore, tying the game at one a piece. The game would go quiet until the final two innings, as Manhattan took a 3-1 lead entering the seventh inning. Despite back-to-back doubles and a valiant effort to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks would fall short, dropping game two, 3-2.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Lauren Card got the start in game one, allowing three runs on three hits over 4.0 innings while tallying two strikeouts
- Caylee English (3-1) came in for relief of Card in the fifth earning the victory
- Holding the Manhattan off the board while setting down two batters on strikes in 3.0 innings of work
- Olivia Wolk led the offensive output in game one, driving home two of the teams six runs
- Kocenski (4-3) got the start in game two, allowing three runs on 10 hits while tallying two strikeouts in a complete game
- Paige Fedak and Cassidy combined to force a six to three double play to help Kocenski escape the seventh
- Curry led the Hawks at the plate in game two, she accounted for both of the teams runs, crossing the plate herself to score the first run of the game and an RBI double
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks return to the diamond this Wednesday, March 23 to take on Fairfield in a single game. First pitch at the Hartford Softball Field is set for 2:30 p.m.
