Hartford Hawks women’s softball advanced in the CNE Championship Pod after a dramatic 15-14 victory over Johnson & Wales University, according to a May 7 announcement. Junior Adelie Beebe secured the win with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, keeping Hartford’s season alive.
The game was marked by frequent lead changes and high-scoring innings. The Wildcats took an early lead in the second inning, but Hartford’s Alyssa Edwards responded with her first home run of the day. Johnson & Wales expanded their advantage to 6-1 before Edwards hit another three-run homer to bring Hartford closer. In the fourth inning, freshman Alina Weaver homered as part of a six-run surge that gave Hartford its first lead at 10-8.
Johnson & Wales reclaimed control in the fifth with a grand slam and added two more runs in the seventh for a three-run cushion. However, Hartford rallied as Weaver drove in another run before Beebe ended the contest with her decisive homer.
On pitching duties for Hartford, senior Carly Mayhood started and allowed six runs over just under three innings while recording four strikeouts. Juniors Gracie Hopkins and Alex Hassett also pitched before sophomore Ella Zobel earned credit for the win by securing two outs late in the game.
At bat, Edwards became only the second player in program history to hit three home runs in one game, joining Danielle Rocheleau who achieved this feat on May 4th, 2018 against Binghamton. Edwards finished perfect at bat with five RBIs and four runs scored; Beebe went three-for-five including her game-winning homerun.
Looking ahead, Hartford will face either Roger Williams or Endicott College next in an elimination matchup.
