HAMDEN, Conn. – The Hartford softball team split its opening doubleheader this afternoon at the Quinnipiac Round Robin against the host Bobcats and America East Conference opponent Maine. The Hawks dropped game one this morning against the Black Bears, 9-2, and bounced back against Quinnipiac in game two, 9-4. After two games, Hartford moves to 9-8 on the season, while Maine moves to 3-19 and Quinnipiac falls down to 3-12 after their home opener.
MAINE 9, HARTFORD 2
Hartford's pitcher,
Lauren Card, and Maine's, Emily Reid, were dueling with one another up until the middle frames. The Black Bears started off the scoring in the third, taking a 1-0 lead over the Hawks. Hartford was able to answer in the bottom half with a run to tie the game up at one after an RBI double from
Haley Cassidy brought home
Chandler Mitchell all the way from first. After tying the game up in the third, Maine put up five unanswered runs to extend its lead to, 6-1.
Caylee English would enter the game in relief for Card in the top half of the sixth inning, setting down the first three batters she faced in order, preventing Maine from adding onto the lead. In the bottom half,
Kelsey Galevich launched her second homerun on the season, bringing the score of the game to, 6-2. The lead for Maine would grow to be insurmountable for Hartford to overcome as the Hawks dropped game one of the Quinnipiac Round Robin, 9-2.
HARTFORD 9, QUINNIPIAC 4
Hartford got off to a fast start against Quinnipiac's starter, Sydney Horan, as it placed two runs up on the board in the second inning. Leading the inning off was
Kelsey Galevich who drew a walk and was followed by a single from
Mara Sczecienski out to left field. With two runners aboard,
Samantha Nagel stepped up to the plate and laced an RBI double into center field, bringing home the first run of the game. Sczecienski advanced to third on the double by Nagel and was later brought home after a sacrifice fly was lifted out to left field by
Paige Fedak. Despite the early, 2-0 lead, Quinnipiac answered right away in the bottom of the second with a three-run double to take the lead, 3-2. The Hawks poured it on over the next three innings, putting five more runs up on the board and regaining the lead.
Samantha Ganaden started off the offensive onslaught in the third with an RBI single into right field to bring home
Haley Cassidy, tying the game up at three. Cassidy came back in the fourth, lining an RBI single into left as Nagel came across the plate to score, giving the Hawks back the lead at, 4-3. In the sixth, three more Hartford baserunners would come around the bases to score. Nagel started it off again by bringing home Sczecienski after reaching on an error by the Bobcats left fielder, followed by a sacrifice fly from Cassidy, and an error made by Quinnipiac's defense which helped
Olivia Wolk to reach base and
Chandler Mitchell to cross the plate. Heading into the final frame the Hawks held the lead, 7-4 over the Bobcats, up until Galevich and Sczecienski went back-to-back with solo home runs. Quinnipiac was unable to answer in the bottom of the seventh, as Hartford walked away with the win in game two, 9-4.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Lauren Card (0-4) got the start in game one against Maine, allowing six runs and striking out one batter over 5.0 inning of work
- Caylee English entered the game in relief of Card in the sixth
- She allowed three runs on three hits and one walk while tallying one strikeout in 2.0 innings pitched
- Sarah Serrano recorded her first collegiate hit in game one, digging out an infield single to the second baseman
- Kelsey Galevich launched her team leading second and third homeruns on the season in both games
- English (4-1) earned the win in game two against host Quinnipiac, throwing the first two innings, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk
- Julianna Kocenski entered the game in relief for English in the third
- She allowed one run on four hits and one walk while setting down one batter on strikes over the final five innings of the game
- Mara Sczecienski blasted her second homerun of the season in game two against the Bobcats
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks are back in action again tomorrow Sunday, March 27 to close out the Quinnipiac Round Robin weekend. Facing off in a split doubleheader against Maine and host Quinnipiac with first pitch set for 12 p.m. in the opening game.