SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Hartford softball team survived the gauntlet on Tuesday afternoon defeating #6 Wentworth Institute of Technology and #4 Western New England University to advance to the Conference of New England (CNE) championship pod that starts on Thursday.
Rapid Recap Wentworth (W, 10-2 F/6):
- The Hawks got the bats rolling early getting three runs in the bottom of the first inning on two hits and two Leopard errors. Freshman Alina Weaver (Nazareth, Pa.) kicked off the inning by singling, stealing second and then advancing to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore Katrina Baran (Townsend, Del.) would single home the shortstop and then advance on a error. Senior Anita Farkash (Seaford, N.Y.) produced the clutch hit with a two RBI single to produce the three-run lead.
- Hartford would continue to add in the second as junior Adelie Beebe (Sacramento, Calif.) launched a no-doubter to left field to plate three more runs. The Leopards would get on the board in the top of the third as Lauren Trostel would get a homer of her own to plate Kyla Igawa to trim the deficit to 6-2. Hartford would respond yet again in the third as sophomore Eryn Coyle (Monroe, N.Y.) would triple to deep right field to score the seventh run for the home team.
- After a scoreless fifth and top of the sixth Hartford would put the game away scoring three more runs to end it. It started with a senior Gia Miccio (Bellmore, N.Y.) double to right center scoring two more Hawks. Beebe would finish the game with a RBI single to hit the mercy rule threshold.
In th Circle:
- Senior Carly Mayhood (Newton, N.J.) was stellar for the Hawks throwing all six innings allowing just the two runs to go with three strikeouts. Mayhood tossed 95 pitches in her eighth win of the season.
At the Plate:
- Beebe led the offensive eruption going 2-for-3 with a homer, four RBIs and a walk. Coyle went 2-for-2 with a triple, two runs scored and a RBI. Miccio broke the program-record for longest single-season hitting streak reaching in her 18th consecutive game. Gia went 2-for-4 with a double, a pair of ribbys and a run scored. Baran added another two hit day which saw seven Hawks register at least a hit.
Rapid Recap Western New England (W, 1-0):
- The Golden Bears and Hawks started the second game very quiet with only Miccio recording a hit through the first two innings. In the bottom of the third Western New England got a single, but the inning came to a half after Marley Rodriguez's bunt was snagged by freshman Priya Bedard (Medway, Mass.) who kept the runner out of scoring position.
- Hartford got the first runner in scoring position in the fifth as sophomore Alyssa Edwards (Stoughton, Mass.) doubled, however the runner would not come home to score. In the sixth the Hawks would finally generate the run to give themselves the lead. It started with Weaver doubling into the gap. After a pair of defensive errors by the Golden Bears, Beebe would knock a sacrifice fly to right field to easily score Weaver to give Hartford the lead.
- Sophomore Ella Zobel (Clarence, N.Y.) was dominant all day and finished things off in the seventh to move Hartford into the championship pod.
In the Circle:
- Zobel picked up her seventh win on the season tossing all seven innings and more importantly only allowing three base runners. Ella finished with five strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
At the Plate:
- Hartford only managed three hits in the win with Weaver and Edwards collecting doubles and Miccio generating a single. Beebe produced her fifth RBI of the day in the victory.
Post Game Press:
"It feels great that I could go the seven innings and pickup the shutout win", said sophomore
Ella Zobel (Clarence, N.Y.). "The defense was amazing behind me and I knew they had my back with every play. We worked hard and fought through every inning. I could not be prouder of this team."
"It felt good being able to get us ahead early in game one", said junior
Adelie Beebe (Sacramento, Calif.). "I knew no matter what my teammates were going to have my back behind me so I went up just having fun and was able to produce today."
Up Next:
The Hawks will travel to Beverly, Mass. for the CNE Championship Pod. Hartford will take on #1 Endicott College on Thursday at 11:00 AM and have now entered the double elimination part of the tournament.
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