MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Hartford softball team used a late offensive surge to rally past Grinnell College, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon. Hartford would later drop the second game to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire by a 13-5 final.
Rapid Recap Grinnell College (W, 5-4):
- Hartford struck first in the opening inning as sophomore Katrina Baran (Townsend, Del.) singled to start the rally before sophomore Alyssa Edwards (Stoughton, Mass.) followed with a base hit through the left side. Senior Anita Farkash (Seaford, N.Y.) delivered the big hit of the frame, singling to center field to score Baran and give the Hawks their early 1-0 lead.
- The Pioneers answered in the third with a three-run frame, highlighted by a triple from Ava Araujo and an RBI single from Leanna Guerra to take a 3-1 advantage. The Pioneers added another run in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 4-1.
- The Hawks began to chip away in the bottom of the fourth as senior Gia Miccio (Bellmore, N.Y.) tripled to right field and later scored on a ground out from freshman Ariana Hernandez (Fair Lawn, N.J.) to make it a two-run game.
- Hartford completed the comeback in the sixth inning. Miccio started the rally with a double down the left field line that brought home a run. Freshman Gillian Ulrich (West Nyack, N.Y.) followed with an RBI single to left center to even the score at 4-4. With the bases loaded later in the inning, Baran drew a walk to force in the go-ahead run and give Hartford the necessary 5-4 lead.
- Grinnell threatened in the seventh with a single to put the tying run aboard, but the Hawks' defense held strong to record the final out and secure the win.
In the Circle:
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Sophomore Ella Zobel (Clarence, N.Y.) started in the circle for Hartford, working the first five innings, Zobel threw three strikeouts, facing 25 at bats, allowed eight hits, and five runs. Senior Carly Mayhood (Newton, N.J.) came on in relief and shut the door, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit to earn the victory.
At The Plate:
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Miccio led the Hawks offensively with a triple and double while scoring twice, Miccio also tallied an RBI for the team. Ulrich delivered a key RBI single in the sixth, while Baran drove in the eventual game-winning run. Farkash also added an RBI single in the first inning to get Hartford on the board early.
Rapid Recap University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (L, 13-5):
- The Blugolds jumped ahead 3-0 in the first after getting five first inning hits. In the top of the second Hartford would respond as junior Adelie Beebe (Sacramento, Calif.) singled followed by a double for Edwards had the Hawks threatening. Miccio would hit a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to two. Beebe would add a sacrifice fly of her own in the second as the lead was down to a single run.
- Hartford would jump in front in the fourth as sophomore Lucy Lembo (Albany, N.Y.) singled home junior Hailey Pruett (Nottingham, N.H.) to tie the game. Freshman Alina Weaver (Nazareth, Pa.) gave the Hawks the lead laying down a squeeze bunt to score Miccio. Baran would later deliver a RBI single as the lead hit 5-3 in favor of Hartford.
- UW-Eau Claire would battle back getting three runs in the bottom of the fourth on four hits to regain a 6-5 lead. They would add five runs in the fifth and and two more in the sixth to win by a mercy rule of 13-5.
In the Circle:
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Junior Gracie Hopkins (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) tossed 3.1 innings in the start allowing six runs on nine hits. Mayhood picked up the loss tossing 1.2 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits with two strikeouts. Junior Alex Hassett (Granby, Conn.) got the final out allowing two runs.
At The Plate:
Up Next:
The Hawks will enjoy a day off before returning to action on Monday taking on two more opponents in Florida.
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