PISCATAWAY, N.J. – In the first-ever meetings between the University of Hartford and the Rutgers softball teams, the Scarlet Knights from the BIGEAST came away with a pair of victories in the Garden State on Wednesday afternoon. Hartford (8-17) fell to Rutgers (16-11) in game one by a 5-0 final and went on to fall, 7-0, in the second game of the day.

Pitcher Alyssa Landrith held the Hawks to just three hits as Rutgers took the opening game by a 5-0 count. The Scarlet Knights plated single runs in the second and fourth, and doubled their advantage to 4-0 with two in the bottom of the fifth. A two-out RBI single in the bottom half of the next frame by Elizabeth Adams put an insurance run on the scoreboard, providing the final score of 5-0.

Two of Hartford's three hits off Landrith came in the top of the seventh with Melani Maxwell and Erica Phelps each notching singles. With one out, Maxwell recorded a base hit to centerfield, and stretched the play 60 more feet following a fielding error by Rutgers' centerfielder Jackie Bates.

After pinch-hitter Chelsey Mooney was retired by Landrith, Phelps came through with the second outfield single of the frame, and would take second base on the play as Rutgers made the throw to home to preserve the shutout. With two runners in scoring position and Amber Andrews at the plate, the Scarlet Knights defense got the final out, inducing the Hawks' second baseman into a groundout.

Junior transfer Zuzana Kudernatshova earned the game one start, allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out four.

A Jennifer Harabedian single down the left field line scored Ashley Bragg, who previously reached on a fielder's choice, for the game's first run. With just one out, Kaci Madden earned a walk to load up the bases, but Kudernatschova got herself out of the jam single handedly, inducing Loren Williams into an infield fly and forcing Chandler Howard into a groundout to end the inning.  

Rutgers doubled its advantage to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth using an RBI double off the bat of Howard before pushing ahead, 4-0, in the following frame. After a strikeout, the Scarlet Knights got a base hit from Jordan Whitley before Ashley Alden hit a two-run shot to give Rutgers the four-run lead.

Sophomore Brittany Beebe replaced Kudernatschova inside of the circle, allowing one run on three hits in the final inning. Landrith fanned eight batters for the win while Whitley went 3-for-3 to lead the Scarlet Knights at the plate.

In game two, Rutgers pitcher Dresden Maddox retired 13 of the final 14 Hawks she faced to help her team earn the win. She scattered just five hits in seven innings while issuing two walks and striking out five.

Rutgers loaded up the bases in their first go-around at the plate and with one out, and Whitley quickly took advantage, knocking-in the first two runs of the game with a single to left center.

An RBI single to right field from Bates made it 2-0 in the bottom of the second before the Scarlet Knights made it 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Williams doubled to lead the inning off, and her stay on the base paths would be a short one as a single up the middle off the bat of Howard would drive her home. Howard then scored the fourth run of the game, advancing to third on a double off the bat of Bates before crossing home on an infield ground out.

Rutgers put the game away in the bottom of the sixth, adding two more notches to the scoreboard.

Just one Hawks got past second base in the second outing, with Haines reaching base on a fielder's choice in the top of the third and advancing to the hot corner on a two-out double off the back of Jackie Kelly.

Junior Kaitlyn Meade pitched six innings for Hartford, allowing seven runs, five earned, on 12 hits. She finished the afternoon with six strikeouts.

The Hawks resume conference play at Albany with a three-game set. The Hawks and Great Danes are scheduled to play two games on Friday, with first pitch slated for 12 noon. The series wraps up with a single game on Saturday at 12 noon.