WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford softball team rallied for five runs over the final three innings, but could not overcome an early 8-0 deficit as it fell 8-5 to in-state rival Connecticut on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks drop to 3-21 on the season while the Huskies improve their record to 15-16.

Kiki Saveriano was perfect through four innings as she retired the first 12 Hartford batters she faced, striking out four in the process. Katelyn Callahan, a freshman, took over inside of the circle in the top of the fifth which is when Hartford got hot and disrupted the Huskies' perfect game.

After Callahan put down the first batter in the frame, catcher Jordan Haines and first baseman Chelsey Mooney worked back-to-back walks off of Connecticut's rookie hurler. Sophomore Melani Maxwell loaded up the bases with a slow dribbler just in front of home plate before freshman Genevieve Morneau-Vaillancourt followed with another infield hit, this time to the pitcher's circle, to put the Hawks' first mark on the scoreboard. With the base paths still full, second baseman Amber Andrews doubled Hartford's score with another short hit to the pitcher, scoring Mooney from the hot corner.

With just one down in the frame, Saveriano reentered and again took the over the duties inside of the circle. A fielder's choice off the bat of center fielder Shannon Simpkins accounted for the second out of the inning, but scored Maxwell for the Hawks' third run of contest to keep the home team in the game at 8-3. Saveriano was able to get out of the jam without any more damage as she fanned Lauren Kamena for the final out.

Nicole Springer, who took over inside of the circle midway through the third, put down the Huskies line-up in order in the six, forcing a pair of ground outs and an infield pop-up. Wacyk kept the momentum going for the Hawks when she rifled a lead-off home run over the left field wall to cut the Connecticut lead in half at 8-4. Hartford managed to load up the bases again as Springer cashed in on a miscue by the Huskies' second baseman and Mooney and Maxwell earned one-out walks off of Saveriano. The Hawks were unable to scratch another run across the plate however as Springer was called out at home on a fielder's choice and Andrews hit an infield pop-up to conclude the inning.

Springer again scored a one, two, three inning for the Hawks who needed four more runs in their final at-bats to complete the comeback. With two outs, Wacyk kept Hartford alive with a single to left center and raced home on Springer's double, also to left field. Hartford however could not muster up anymore runs and fell three runs short of the visiting team.

Connecticut jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning using three hits to put the first notch on the scoreboard. The Huskies exploded for four innings in the fourth and cushioned their lead at 8-0 with a three-run fifth inning.

Brittany Duclos and Amy Vaughan notched two-straight hits, a single and a double, with one down in the fourth before Marissa Guches smashed a long ball over the left field fence. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Julianne Towers advanced three more bases to cross home plate on a double to left center by Jennifer Ward.

Rookie pitcher Kaitlyn Meade suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs in 3.2 innings of work. In relief, Springer threw for 3.1 innings and struck out one while allowing three runs, two of which were earned. Wacyk finished 2-for-4 to lead the Hawks at the plate. The sophomore collected one RBI and scored twice in the contest.

The Hawks continue their break from America East Conference play when they travel to in-state foe Fairfield on Sunday, April 10 for a doubleheader. First pitch is set to be thrown at 1:00 p.m.