Minneapolis, MN - The University of Hartford baseball team dropped a 10-0 decision in the first of three games against the Minnesota Gophers at the Metrodome this weekend. Hartford drops to 1-10 on the season with the loss. Tomorrow's game is scheduled to start at 3:05 p.m. eastern time and can be watched live on the internet using the Hawks Nest feature on the right side of the home page.
Sophomore right hander Weston Szymanski started and picked up the loss for the Hawks. He is now 1-2 overall and pitched four innings against Minnesota. Szymanski allowed six earned runs on seven hits while striking out one batter and walking just one. He was relieved in the fifth by John Curry who lasted two innings allowing three earned runs on five hits with C.J. Browne coming in the seventh and going the distance. Browne allowed just one run, while not allowing a hit. He walked four batters and struck out four others.
The Hawks bats were led by Erik Price, the only player to finish with multiple hits. He had a pair of hits on three at bats. Also wracking up hits for Hartford was Brady Stouffer, Ben Sobocinski, Adam Bowser, Matt O'Connell and Jon Ricco. The Hawks finished with seven total hits.
Minnesota's offense heated up fast with three first inning runs, two of which came in the first two at bats. Matt Nohelty led off the inning with a single up the middle, before stealing the first base of the game. He then scored on a two run homer to left center field from Dan Lyons. The final run of the inning came on a solo home run to right center from Kyle Baran.
Minnesota then added three runs in the fourth and three in the sixth before closing out the game with a single run in the seventh. The Golden Gophers were led by Nohelty, Lyons and Mike Mee who all finished with two RBI. Nohelty's bat was the best for Minnesota, finishing with three hits on four at bats. Mee and Nate Hanson also finished with a multi-hit game, both adding two hits.
Ethan Vogt was the only pitcher of record for Minnesota. He completed the nine inning game allowing just seven hits and struck out three batters.
Hartford and Minnesota will play a three-game series, all at the Metrodome this weekend. The two teams will play two more nine inning games, one on both Saturday and Sunday. The Hawks and Gophers will throw the first pitch at 3:05 p.m. eastern time on Saturday and the game can be watched online with live video. Fans should sign up for the Hawks Nest feature on the right side of the HartfordHawks.com homepage to watch the game live.
