ORONO, Maine – The University of Hartford softball team suffered a pair of losses at Maine on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks dropped an 8-0 decision to start the weekend before a second-game comeback was spoiled in game two in a 5-4 loss.

Hartford falls to 3-39 overall and 0-13 in the America East while Maine (18-17) moves to 7-4 in the league. The two teams are slated to conclude the series on Sunday at 12 noon.

Pacing the Hawks on the afternoon was senior Jenice Aloyo, who went 3-for-7 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman Jamie Soles collected a trio of RBI, as her game two home run in the fifth inning helped Hartford erase a 2-0 deficit.

Alexis Bogdanovich picked up both wins in the circle for Maine, going the distance in game one before scoring the game two win in relief. She struck out the only batter she faced in the nightcap, and improved to 12-5 on the season after 0.1 innings.

GAME ONE
Bogdanovich, Maine's ace, pitched a gem for the Black Bears in the opening game. The senior scattered just two hits and fanned 12 batters through six innings to chalk up to her team-best sixth shutout of the season.

Just three Hartford batters got past Bogdanovich and Maine's defense as senior Aloyo and sophomore Danielle DeMarco each had base hits while senior Jackie Kelly reached base on four balls. The Hawks and Black Bears exchanged four scoreless innings before Erika Leonard's one-out, solo shot in the bottom half of the fifth broke open the pitcher's duel and put Maine in front by a 1-0 count.

Maine did all of its damage with two outs in the home half of the sixth, using four hits and a pair of walks to extend its lead to 8-0 and end the contest via the eight-run mercy rule. With runners on first and second, Jessica Burk knocked a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double that made it a 3-0 advantage for the home squad. Back-to-back singles from Leonard and Rachel Carlson allowed Burk to score the fourth run of the frame and load up the bases, setting the scene for Lennon's game-ending grand slam.

Freshman Kelsey Bird gave up eight runs on six hits and finished with six walks a pair of strikeouts. She falls to 2-12 on the season while Bogdanovich improves her mark to 11-5.

GAME TWO
An RBI double provided by Faythe Goins in the fourth inning provided Maine with a 2-0 advantage. The home team wouldn't lead for long, though, as Hartford rallied in the top of the fifth to go up for the first time in the afternoon.

Leading off the inning with a single to centerfield, sophomore Lexi Wilkerson grabbed two more bags on a miscue by the Black Bears' first baseman before crossing home on an Aloyo rip through the left side. With runners on first and second, Soles gave Hartford a two-run advantage with one swing of the bat, putting her team on top, 4-2, with her first career home run.

That long ball forced Maine to make a pitching change that saw Kennedy take over the duties inside of the circle for Erin Bogdanovich. Inducing a pop-out for the inning's first out, the Black Bears' pitcher conceded a two-bagger to senior Jackie Kelly, but struck out the final two batters she faced to get out of the jam.

Maine battled back in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on second and third, a dribbler in front of the plate allowed Sarah Coyne to beat out a tag and spark the rally. A deep sacrifice fly by Leonard allowed Kristen Koslosky, who singled earlier in the inning, to tie up the contest.

In the bottom of the seventh, Maine put together its second walk-off hit of the day. Reaching on a fielder's choice, Lennon swiped second base before Nikki Byron singled her in for the win.

Lexi Wilkerson went 6.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits while issuing seven walks.