DOVER, Del. – The University of Hartford softball team came back from multiple-run deficits in securing the season-opening doubleheader sweep of Delaware State Friday at the DSU Softball Field.
GAME ONE: HARTFORD 7, DELAWARE STATE 6
With the tying run on second and winning run on third,
Caylee English emphatically slammed the door with her eighth strikeout of the game as Hartford opened the season with a 7-6 win over Delaware State.
After surrendering four runs on two hits with three walks in the first inning, English was dominant over the final six innings. The hurler struck out seven on just two hits to finish the game. Over seven innings, English surrendered six runs, two earned, on five hits with eight strikeouts.
Most of the game's scoring happened over the first two innings as the Hornets scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, and Hartford responded with a six-spot in the top of the second.
Back-to-back singles and an error had the Hawks with bases loaded and no outs. A fielder's choice brought home the first run, and
Sarah Serrano's bunt single reloaded the bases.
Olivia Wolk brought home the second run, then
Mara Sczecienski's two-run single knotted the game and an error on the play enabled the go-ahead run to cross the plate.
Kelsey Galevich capped the scoring in the inning with a single.
The score stayed 6-4 until both squads scored individual runs in the sixth, and Hartford staved off a potential Delaware State rally in the seventh.
Wolk finished 2-of-3 with a run scored and two RBI, while Sczecienski added a pair of RBI.
GAME TWO: HARTFORD 6, DELAWARE STATE 4
Freshman
Mikayla Gordon came off the bench for the biggest Hartford hit of the game with a two-out, two-run single that gave the Hawks a one-run lead in the top of the sixth inning in the eventual 6-4 victory over Delaware State.
Gordon's two-run single capped a four-run sixth turning a three-run deficit into a one-run lead.
Sczecienski opened the game-changing frame with a double, and Galevich continued the momentum with an infield single and stolen base.
Shailynn Williams, in her first at-bat of the game, singled down the right-field line to pull the Hawks to within one.
Azya Walker walked and ground out at the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.
A lineout threatened to halt the threat, but Gordon came up huge with a line drive up the middle.
Hartford added an insurance run via an infield single off the bat of Williams.
For the second straight game, DSU took the lead with runs in the bottom of the first inning, and after three innings, the Hornets led 4-1.
The Hawks had a chance to pull closer in the fourth as Galevich opened the frame with a triple. However, she was thrown out at the plate on the fielders choice. Back-to-back walks helped the Hawks load the bases, but a double play ended the threat.
Sczecienski and Galevich combined to go 6-for-8 with two runs scored, while Williams was 2-for-2 with three RBI.
Lauren Card, 1-0, allowed four runs – three earned – on 10 hits and five strikeouts.
WHAT'S NEXT
Hartford travels to Manhattan Sunday for a doubleheader that was moved up from Tuesday due to impending weather.
