WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University softball team took an early lead before host University of Hartford rallied with runs late in the game to send the Stags home with a 5-3 setback on Wednesday afternoon. 

Haley Updegraff has been the Stags catalyst at the top of the lineup throughout the early season and today wasn't any different as she opened the game by drawing a walk. She moved up two bases when each of the next two batters sent a grounder to the left side of the infield, putting her on third with two outs. Mikayla Rubin responded with an infield single that brought home the game's first run and provided an early lead for starting pitcher Katie Kudlacik.

The lefthander made that run stand up until the fourth inning when Hartford put together a rally that brought three runners across home plate. The Hawks managed only two hits in the frame but both were RBI singles that were responsible for the three runs. The first RBI base hit was misplayed which allowed an unearned run to score as well.

The Stags tied the game in the fifth inning despite only picking up one base hit. Updegraff started things off again with a walk and moved up when she swiped second base. Charli Warren reached on a fielder's choice which set up Rubin's sacrifice bunt that placed the two runners into scoring position. Updegraff scampered home with the team's first run of the inning when a pitch eluded the catcher to make the score 3-2. Warren tied the score when she was able to score on a miscue in the outfield, bringing the score to 3-3.

Hartford came up with the deciding runs in its half of the fifth inning, a rally which started with a one-out walk from Julianna Kocenski. Mara Sczecienski was the next hitter to step into the batter's box and her stay was not long as she drove a pitch over the fence to provide a two-run cushion at 5-3. 

Fairfield managed just one more base runner in the final two innings which was a result of Madison Robicheau's walk in the sixth inning. The Stags were retired in order in the seventh inning to end the game.

The Stags used three pitchers in the game with Kudlacik remaining in the circle into the fourth inning before giving way to Maddy Wilson. Sam Lindsay. finished the game for Fairfield, taking over for Wilson with one out in the fifth inning.

Fairfield will play its first home games of the season on Saturday when it hosts Stony Brook University for a pair of games. The first pitch is slated for 12 pm.