Orono, ME ? The University of Hartford softball team split a pair of conference games against America East foe Maine, defeating the Black Bears by a 2-1 final in game one before falling 3-0 in the nightcap at Kessock Field on Saturday afternoon.
In the opening game of the afternoon, Hartford ace Brittney Stratton threw for seven complete innings inside the circle, allowing just one run and fanning five batters to earn her 12th win of the season. The junior hurler broke the program's all-time win record as she chalked up her 44th career victory with today's victory, passing Danielle Simoneau in the rankings. Simoneau pitched for Hartford during the 1994-97 seasons, and broke the record in her final season as a Hawk in 1997.
In the first game, the Black Bears put a run on the board in the bottom of the first to take a quick 1-0 lead over the Hawks. Alexis Souhlaris opened Maine's at-bats with a bunt for a single, and stole second. Back-to-back sacrifice hits ? a bunt by AshleyWaters and a sac-fly to right field by Terren Hall ? allowed Souhlaris to advance to third and plate Maine lone's run of the game.
The Hawks notched single runs in the second and third frames to take a 2-1 lead over the Black Bears. Hartford got its run back from Maine in the second as senior Kayla Demarest knocked the Hawks' first hit of the game to left field with two outs. A double off the bat of sophomore Lauren Kamena plated Demarest for Hartford's first notch on the scoreboard.
A costly error by Maine allowed the Hawks to plate their second run of the game for a 2-1 advantage over the Black Bears. Junior Ann Kyzer opened the top half of the frame with a single. Following back-to-back strikeouts by Maine pitcher Souhlaris, red-shirt freshman Shannon Simpkins worked a walk off the Black Bears' starter. A single down the left field line by catcher Lindsey Anrico loaded up the bases for the Hawks, and Kyzer plated the eventual game-winner on an error by Maine third baseman Hall.
The final four innings proved to be a pitcher's duel between Stratton and Maine hurler Ashley Kelley, who replaced Souhlaris inside of the circle. Both throwers put zeroes on the scoreboard to close out the game with the eventual 2-1 final. In the loss, Souhlaris pitched for three innings, giving up two runs ? one earned ? while fanning four batters. In three innings of work, Kelley earned four stirkeouts.
In the nightcap, Maine (27-19, 7-6 AE) blanked Hartford (16-17, 7-5 AE) by a 3-0 as Jenna Balent pitched a seven inning complete-game shutout ? her fifth-straight ? to raise her record to 9-3 on the season.
The Black Bears got all of the runs they needed in the bottom of the first, as they plated all three runs in their first at-bats. Souhlaris kick-started the bats for Maine, opening the game with an infield single. She then stole second, and scored on an RBI double to left field by Kali Burnham. A single by Waters plated Burnham for Maine's second run, who then scored the final run of the game on an RBI single off the bat of Hall.
The Hawks saw an opportunity to plate runs in the third inning, but could not capitalize on the situation. With one out, junior Sara Messinger earned a walk, and advanced to second on a single off the bat of Amanda Sais. Kyzer juiced the bases on a base-hit to centerfield, however Hartford would strand its three runners as Balent fanned Cericola and forced Clonick into an infield pop-up to end the inning.
Stratton also pitched game two, combining for 13 innings of work on the afternoon and going to the distance in each of the two games. The junior gave up three runs ? two earned ? on eight hits while striking out four. Sais led the Hawks' offense in the nightcap, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate and was the only Hawk to register multiple hits in the contest.
Hartford and Maine will conclude the three-game series on Sunday, April 19 with a single contest beginning at 12 p.m. at Kessock Field.
