NORTH EAST, Md. - The Harford softball team (17-2, 9-1 MD JUCO) inched closer to the school wins record and kept pace in the race for its first conference crown with a doubleheader sweep at Cecil on Friday. The Fighting Owls won 8-0 and 8-4.

Harford 8, Cecil 0
Desi Joines remained the hottest pitcher in the conference with another shutout performance. She struck out eight, scattered two hits and walked just one going the distance to improve to 10-1 on the season.

The Fighting Owls scored all eight runs in the fourth inning for the run-rule victory. Mackenzie Fitzgerald had two hits in the frame, including an RBI-double to open the scoring. In all, Harford had seven hits in the inning, including back-to-back doubles to start it off.

Harford 8, Cecil 4
The Fighting Owls dented the dish four times in the top of the first, but needed a pair of two-run innings late to break a 4-4 tie for the sweep. Katie Shultz (6-1) got the victory while striking out three batters in the complete game.

Fitzgerald totaled three RBIs in the game two win while Shultz, Joines and Fabiana Della-Monica each had a double.

The Fighting Owls are now just three wins away from matching the school record, and sit in first place in the MD JUCO conference with a 9-1 record. They host Rowan Gloucester County on Tuesday.