West Hartford, CT ? The University of Hartford baseball team remains unbeaten in conference play with a 4-2 victory over the Stony Brook Seawolves in the first of a four-game conference series between the two teams. Hawks starting pitcher Weston Szymanski pitched his third complete game of the season and second in as many starts to record his fourth win of the season (4-2 overall).
Hartford (8-17 overall, 5-0 America East) finished with six hits all from different players. Adam Bowser and Ryan Crowley recorded the only RBI's for the Hawks, with Ben Sobocinski recording a double and five Hawks recording a steal in the game. Szymanski finished the game allowing eight hits, and two runs (one earned), while striking out five batters.
The Seawolves (12-14 overall, 4-1 AE) struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. After striking out the first batter, Szymanski allowed his fourth hit as a single down the left field line for Mike Tansey. Chris Cruz would then reach on a fielder's choice, moving Tansey to second, only to score on the next at bat. Justin Echevarria smacked a single to right field, which scored Tansey and Cruz scored on the same play after a fielding error on the Hawks third baseman.
Hartford put its first notch in the scoreboard in the fourth inning after a lead off double down the left field line for Sobocinski. He then stole third on the first pitch of the next at bat and scored on a routine groundout to short for Crowley. The Hawks tied the score in the fifth, manufacturing a run after Matt O'Connell reached base with a one out single to right field. He advanced to second on a hit batter and took third on a throw to first, which caught Jon Ricco off the base. An infield single for Bowser recorded the Hawks second RBI of the game.
A pair of Stony Brook miscues led to an extended inning and two runs in the seventh for the Hawks first lead of the game. The first runner of the inning came on a one out walk for O'Connell. He then reached third, when Brady Stouffer reached on a fielding error on the Seawolves short stop. After a lineout for Bowser, Stouffer stole second base, his seventh stolen base of the season. Both runners then scored on a throwing error by the third baseman.
The Hawks and Seawolves will continue their four-game series tomorrow with a double header beginning at 12:00 p.m.
