WEST HARTFORD, CT ? The University of Hartford softball team dropped the final game of its series against the University of Maine on Sunday afternoon by a 12-1 final in six innings at the UH Softball Field.
Maine (11-36 overall, 10-8 America East) pounded out 11 hits in the game?including three home runs?and was led by a 3-for-4 effort by Ashley Waters. She finished only a triple shy of the cycle and drove in two runs. Jenna Balent got the win in the circle, giving up one run on four hits over five innings.
Hartford (18-18 overall, 7-11 America East) managed only four hits off Maine pitching. The loss officially eliminated the Hawks from the upcoming America East Championship. Sophomore Brittney Stratton gave up seven runs on six hits in five innings in the defeat.
Stratton ran into trouble in the third inning that started with leadoff batter Alexis Souhlaris, who appeared to strike out but was given new life when an illegal pitch was called. Souhlaris walked on the next offering and promptly stole second base to move into scoring position. Whitney Spangler brought her home with a double off the right field fence, and Waters followed with a two-run homer to left to put the Black Bears up 3-0.
Hartford had a chance to cut into the deficit in the fourth but squandered a one-out double by sophomore Rachel Clonick. The Hawks had runners at second and third with two outs, but Balent got out of the jam by getting a ground out to third base.
Spangler and Waters got Maine going in the fifth, the former leading off the frame with a single and the latter following with a double. A walk to Terren Hall loaded the bases, and Kristen Calvetti brought everyone home with a blast over the left field fence to put the Black Bears in front 7-0.
The Hawks got a run back in the fifth on an RBI single by junior Amanda Sais. Sophomore Amanda Dilworth scored on the play after belting a one-out double into the gap in left-center.
Maine scored five runs off Hartford relief pitching in the sixth to seal the victory. Souhlaris led off the inning with a solo homer to left and also had an RBI infield single later in the inning. Hall gave the Black Bears the eight-run advantage with an RBI single up the middle, and Burnham followed with an RBI double to center. After Erin Iandoli drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run, Souhlaris plated the final run by beating out an infield chopper.
Hartford will next host the University of Rhode Island for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 29 at 2:30 p.m. at the UH Softball Field.
