BALTIMORE, Md. – The University of Hartford softball team fell to the UMBC Retrievers in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. UMBC took game one by an 8-1 final and went on to secure the win in game two in an 8-3 decision. The Hawks (7-32, 2-12 AE) and Retrievers (24-21, 7-10 AE) wrap up their three-game set on Sunday at noon.

Hartford got on the scoreboard first in the opening game with a single run in the top of the second frame. Sophomore Kate Wacyk got things going for the Hawks when she earned a lead-off walk and was pushed to second base on classmate Jordan Haines' sacrifice bunt. Shortstop Melani Maxwell reached base on another walk issued by UMBC pitcher Stephanie Weigman before Genevieve Morneau-Vaillancourt, a rookie, laced a two-out single down the right field line to plate Wacyk.

UMBC responded and gained the lead in the bottom of the third when Angela Yannone launched a two run shot over the left field fence with just one out in the stanza. With the 2-1 edge, the Retrievers kept the bats going as they put two more runners on the base paths on Katie Fegurson's single and a walk by Ashley Scroggin. The home team's third run of the frame was provided by Lauren O'Malley when she fired a single through the left side of the diamond, scoring Ferguson.

The Retrievers closed out the third with two more runs and went on to push their lead to 8-1 after plating three runs using three hits and a Hawks' miscue in the infield.

For the Hawks, Kaitlyn Meade earned the start, allowing five runs – three earned – in 2.1 innings. The rookie struck out two and walked five batters. In relief, Nicole Springer threw 3.2 innings and allowed three runs. Junior center fielder Shannon Simpkins collected a pair of hits. For UMBC, Culotta and Scroggin led the way at the plate each collecting a pair of hits and two runs.

In the nightcap, UMBC drew blood first in its first at-bats on a two run homer off the bat of Jessica Warner. Hartford quickly grabbed one run back as Haines responded with a lead-off shot over the left field fence in the second frame to cut the Retrievers' lead in half.

Lauren Brummell pushed UMBC's advantage to 4-1 in the bottom of the second with her double to center field that plated two runs. The Retrievers continued to build its lead in the following frame when Scroggin ripped a double down the left field line with the bases loaded to score Warter from third, Yannone from second and Ferguson from first base. With its advantage extended to 7-1, UMBC used a single run in the bottom of the fourth to cushion its lead at 8-1.

Hartford managed to get a pair of runs back in the top of the fifth as it rallied for three hits with two down in the stanza. Amber Andrews, the Hawks' rookie second baseman, got the bats going when she sent an extra-base hit down the right field line setting the scene for Lauren Kamena who cleaned up the diamond with her long ball over the right center field wall. Springer followed with a double, however the Hawks' rally was cut short was pitcher Amanda Daminao retired Wacyk to end the inning.

Siera Sheehan, a junior, suffered the loss for the Hawks inside of the circle. In six innings, she walked three, struck out one, and allowed eight runs – six earned – on seven hits. Heather Brown earned the win for UMBC, striking out two while scattering seven hits in seven innings of work.