WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford softball team took one of two against the Maine Black Bears in the opening game of America East conference play on Saturday at the UH Softball Field. The Hawks defeated the Black Bears by a 5-2 final in the opening game and dropped a 1-0 decision in the nightcap.

A four-run, sixth inning rally broke a 1-1 deadlock and proved to be the deciding factor in the Hawks' 5-2 victory in game one. Hurler Brittney Stratton pitched a complete game, allowing a pair of earned runs on six hits while striking out five. The senior improves to an impressive 6-1 mark on the young season.

Hartford dented the scoreboard first with its top half of the line-up doing the damage. Amanda Dilworth led off the frame with a single to right field and advanced to second on an infield ground out by Jessica Oliveira. With one in scoring position, freshman Nicole Springer laced a base hit to right field, scoring Dilworth for the first run of the game. Senior Ann Kyzer followed with a double however with runners on the corners, Maine pitcher Alexis Souhlaris kept the scoring to a minimum as she induced Rachel Clonick and Kate Wacyk into infield ground outs to end the inning.

Maine responded with a single run in the third stanza on an RBI double by first baseman Kirstin Allen. With two down, junior Kali Burnham connected for a single, and was driven home on a long ball that cleared the head of Hartford centerfielder Oliveira and fell just short of clearing the centerfield wall. Hilary Kane followed with a single, however Stratton put down freshman Jenny MacDowell to close out the inning.

Stellar defense by the Hawks in the top of the fourth prevented the Black Bears from plating the go-ahead run. Souhlaris notched a single with one out and would have been driven home on what seemed to be a base hit by Maine's Whitney Spangler when she connected for a deep shot to left field. Hartford's Shannon Simpkins not only made an impressive over the shoulder catch for the second out, but managed to throw out Souhlaris at first to get out of the jam without any damage.

Successful back-to-back squeeze plays played an integral part of Hartford's four-run sixth inning. With Kyzer and Clonick in scoring position with one out and first base vacant, sophomore Erica Phelps planted a perfect bunt down the middle of the infield to plate Kyzer and advance Clonick 60 feet. Freshman Jordan Haines caught the Black Bears' defense off-guard and dropped an identical bunt, scoring Clonick and pushing the Hawks' lead to 3-1. After a pitching change that saw Beth Spoehr relieve Souhlaris inside the circle with two out and runners on second and third, Dilworth connected for a bases clearing single to give Hartford a 5-1 advantage. A ground out to second base closed the inning however the Hawks got all of the run support they would need.

The Black Bears threatened in the top of the seventh when Souhlaris launched a solo shot to centerfield with one down. Spangler followed with a double but Maine could not muster a rally of its own as Stratton forced Hall into a groundout and senior Kristen Calvetti flied out to end the game.

Seven different players accounted for the Hawks' 10 hits with Springer and Kyzer each finishing 2-for-3 in game one. Dilworth also notched a pair of hits in four at-bats, and knocked in a pair of runs. Souhlaris took the loss for Maine inside the circle. The senior threw 5.2 innings, allowed five runs – four earned – while striking out six. Souhlaris also went 2-for-2 with, scored one run and drove in one to lead her squad at the plate.

In game two, sophomore Ashley Kelley hurled a five-hit shutout, allowing the Black Bears to squeeze by the Hawks by a 1-0 final. The pitcher recorded nine strikeouts in the win.

Despite allowing just one run on four hits, sophomore hurler Siera Sheehan could not get the run support needed to earn her third win of the season. The Black Bears scratched the game's lone run across the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning when they juiced up the bases with no outs in the frame. A sacrifice fly to left field by Burnham plated Spangler, the eventual game-winning run.

Facing their final at-bats with one down, Wacyk launched a long fly ball to centerfield that was just short of clearing the fence at the 220-ft. mark. Senior Olivia Piacentini pinch hit and greeted Kelley with a two-out single to right field. Sara Messinger managed to work a walk off of the sophomore who then ended the Hawks' chance for a late rally as she fanned Lauren Kamena for the game's final out.

Hartford (8-5 overall, 1-1 America East) and Maine (12-20 overall, 1-1 America East) will close out the three-game series with a rubber match on Sunday, March 28. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.