MANHATTAN, N.Y. – Playing for the first time in the Northeast in 2013, the University of Hartford softball team split a pair of games against Manhattan at Gaelic Park on Sunday afternoon. After suffering a rough loss to start the day, Hartford (3-8) rebounded to score a 1-0 win over the Jaspers in the second game.

Game number two proved to be a pitcher's duel with Zuzana Kudernatschova throwing a two-hit shutout and sophomore Margaret Betz knocking-in the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the second to help lead Hartford to the victory. Kudernatschova, a junior transfer, struck out three batters and walked just two, earning her first win in a Hawks' uniform.

Amy Bright tossed an impressive game for Manhattan as well, holding Hartford to three hits. The Hawks capitalized early in the game as Chelsey Mooney, who earned a walk with one out and advanced to third on an infield groundout followed by a wild pitch, crossed home plate for the only run of the game on Betz's RBI single to left field.

The Hawks threatened on one other occasion, but came up short in doubling their run total in the top of the third. After leading off with an infield single to start the game junior Amber Andrews advanced to second using a sacrifice bunt from Jenice Aloyo. With two down and Andrews on second, Mooney singled to center field. A speedy base runner, Andrews attempted to turn third and head home on the play, but the throw beat her at the plate, ending the inning.

Kudernatschova held the Jaspers hitless until the bottom of the fifth, when Andi Stallard connected for a one-hit single. Manhattan's only other hit of the afternoon came off the bat of Meghan McDevitt, who reached with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. The Hawks' hurler ended the game with ease, though, inducing Stallard into an infield groundout.

The opening game belonged to Manhattan, which outhit Hartford, 12-3, to score the 12-2 win. The Jaspers exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second inning, with Elena Bowman belting out a three-run homer to cap the rally and provide her squad with the early 7-0 lead.

Hartford grabbed two of those runs back in the top of the third, but the Jaspers' offense continued to produce as the home team plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth and scored the win via the eight-run mercy rule following another three-run bomb from Bowman.

Peyton Fisher and Kate Wacyk were credited with Hartford's RBIs. With the bases loaded and one recorded, Fisher earned the RBI after reaching base on a fielder's choice, plating Melani Maxwell who started the frame off with a walk. The next at-bat saw Aloyo score from third on a two-out RBI single to left field off the bat of Wacyk.

Kaitlyn Meade suffered the loss inside of the circle. She drops to 1-3 on the season after allowing all seven runs in the bottom of the second. In relief, Brittany Beebe worked for 3.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits.

The Hawks play their first home game of the season on Wednesday, when they welcome neighboring rival Central Connecticut to West Hartford for a doubleheader. First pitch will be tossed at 2:30 p.m.