New Britain, CT - The University of Hartford baseball team dropped a pair of road games at in-state rival Central Connecticut State on Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks gave up a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh to drop the first game 2-1 and the Central offense heated up with a six run fourth inning to win the nightcap 13-9.
The Hawks (0-6 overall) only offense in the first game came from a solo shot from Adam Bowser as the lead off hitter in the top of the seventh inning. The home run, the first of the season for the junior outfielder, tied the score at one after the Blue Devils opened the scoring in the bottom half of the sixth.
Junior lefty Pete Moraski started for the Hawks and battled Evan Scribner for five and two thirds innings. Moraski held the Blue Devils (4-1 overall) to just one hit in the span, while striking out three batters and walking none. Kyle Perry came in relief to end the sixth and gave up the game winning walk-off home run for Jack Kidd with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Kyle Perry suffered his first loss of the season, facing only four batters in the game.
In the nightcap both teams cranked up their offense early with each team scoring three runs in the first. The Hawks struck first with Bill Perry and Matt O'Connell picking up the RBI's. O'Connell scored two of the Hawks runs on a double to right field, scoring Erik Price and Bill Perry.
Central answered back with three in the bottom half of the inning and then took their first lead of the game in the second inning with three more. The Hawks would only be able to tie the score twice more in the game, but never took a lead. The Blue Devils took control of the game in the fourth bolting ahead with six runs.
The Hawks finished the day led by Ben Sobocinski and O'Connell. Both finished with four hits on seven at bats. O'Connell also added a pair of RBI and Sobocinski finished with an RBI, while recording a double and two stolen bases. Also hitting well for Hartford Bill Perry, who finished 3-for-6 with a pair of RBI. The loss in the second game went to John Coury, who saw just one inning of action, but allowed three runs on one hit. The Hawks used seven pitchers in the second game.
