Box Score WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford softball team rallied in the bottom of the seventh, but it was unable to overcome a six-run deficit as it fell to Maine, 12-9, in the rubber match the America East's opening weekend. The Hawks fall to 5-13 with a 1-2 mark in the conference while the Black Bears improve to 10-9 and 2-1 in league play.

Hartford and Maine exchanged blows throughout the first five innings, but the Black Bears clinched the game and the series of the season with four runs in the top half of the sixth. Using three hits, a pair of walks and a fielder's choice, the visitors broke open a 6-6 ball game to take a 10-6 advantage, one it would hold on to down the final stretch.

In the top of the seventh, Maine stretched its four run lead to six at 12-6 thanks to an RBI single by Rachel Harvey. But the Hawks mounted a late comeback in their final at-bats, rallying for three runs to close the gap to 12-9.

Freshman Marisa Ferguson started the frame with a base hit, and after senior Amber Andrews flied out to centerfield, rookie Mackenzie Obert and sophomore Sawyer Fried notched back-to-back RBI doubles to make it a four-run game. Capping the spurt was a Chelsey Mooney single that coupled with a fielding error in center field, allowed Fried to come around and score Hartford's ninth run of the game.

The Hawks' comeback bid would be halted, though, as pitcher Kylie Sparks induced the middle of Hartford's lineup into back-to-back fly outs to end the game.

Going 1-of-2 with an RBI was Andrews, who scored Hartford's first two runs of the afternoon. The senior singled and rounded the paths on a stolen base, wild pitch and fielder's choice in the first before crossing home in the third on a ripper down the middle of the infield by Obert, who finished with two RBI and two hits.

Maine also plated single runs in the second and third to keep the game tied at two heading into the fourth inning. In the home half of the frame, the Hawks lit up the scoreboard with four runs to jump out to a 6-2 lead. Junior Margaret Betz and senior Genevieve Morneau-Vaillancourt recorded back-to-back RBI doubles to start the scoring while a fielding error and Andrews' sacrifice fly brought in the final two runs of the frame.

The lead was short-lived for the home team, however. The Black Bears quickly retied the score, this time at 6-6, after plating four runs in their next at-bats. Four more runs would be added the scoreboard in the sixth before a pair of insurance runs were scratched across the plate in the final frame.

Earning the win for the Black Bears was Sparks, who struck out two and allowed five runs – two earned – in the final 3.2 innings. Junior Ana Alberti took the loss for the Hawks, dropping to 1-2 after allowing two earned runs in 0.2 innings. Samantha Ralphs finished with four runs for Maine while Harvey and Shelby Obert each collected four RBI to pace the offense.

The Hawks host Brown in mid-week action on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch of the doubleheader will be thrown at 2 p.m.