After going an even .500 on the road with six wins and six losses, the Hawks headed home for their home opener series against the Manhattan Jaspers. Last time out against the Jaspers, Hartford swept the doubleheader series. Looking to prevent the sweep, the Jaspers were able to win one out of two games this time around.
Game one got off to a hot start as Manhattan put up one run on Hartford’s starting pitcher, Lauren Card. That lead didn’t last for long when Kelsey Galevich drove in a run on an RBI single in the bottom half of the first inning. The Jaspers scored two more runs in the third inning, giving them the edge, 3-1. That momentum stopped when Hartford Junior Caylee English entered the game in the top of the fifth. As Manhattan’s momentum stopped, the Hawks were just getting started. After a hot game at the plate, The Hawks went on to win game one, 6-3.
Game two was completely different from game one as it was a pitcher’s duel. Hawks ace Julianna Kocenski and Jasper’s star Jessie Rising battled it out as both only let up one run through five complete innings. The game stayed a pitcher’s duel until late in the game. When Manhattan went up 3-1 going into the seventh, the Hawks smashed back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the seventh but could not drive in enough runs to overcome the one-run deficit. The Jaspers split the series against the Hawks, winning game two with a final score of 3-2.
Following a valiant effort in the home opener, the Hawks will return to the diamond in Hartford on March 23 at 2:30 p.m.