West Hartford, CT ? The University of Hartford baseball team dropped a pair of games to the Stony Brook Seawolves on Saturday. Hartford now trails Stony Brook 2-1 in the four-game series between the two teams. The Seawolves used a solo home run to win the first game 1-0, and took home a 3-1 decision in the second game. The two teams will play a single game on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at the Hartford Baseball Field.
Stony Brook had strong performances from their pitching staff, giving up just nine hits over the two games, including a complete game shut out in the first game for Gary Novakowski. Starter Kurt Jung picked up the win in the second game, going 5.2 innings and allowing the only Hawks run and giving up six hits. Jonathan Kalkau also picked up a save in the second game, going 1.2 innings in relief.
Hawks starters Pete Moraski and Kyle Perry suffered the losses for the Hawks. Also seeing time on the mound for Hartford was C.J. Browne in the first game and Adam Flaherty in the second game. For the day, three players finished with two hits a piece; Matt O'Connell, Ben Sobocinski and Bill Perry. Chris Hebert had the only RBI of the double header for the Hawks.
Stony Brook, behind the arm of starter Novakowski picked up the first game of the double header 1-0. Novakowski allowed just two hits in his first shutout of the season, he is now 2-1 on the season. He also finished with two strikeouts. The Hawks starter, Moraski, lasted three and two-third innings and suffered his second loss of the season in three decisions. Moraski was tacked with the only run of the game, which came on a home run in the fourth inning.
Designated Hitter Mike Stephan belted his second home run of the season over the right field fence, putting the only mark on the scoreboard. Moraski then loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, before Browne came in and forced Keith Fier into a fielder's choice, stranding three runners on base. Browne then completed three subsequent one-two-three innings.
Hartford threatened with its first hit in the bottom of the sixth when O'Connell reached on a single up the middle, the first hit for the Hawks. O'Connell wouldn't score as Novakowski forced the next two batters into infield ground outs. Sobocinski then led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single, but the next two batters were forced out and Sobocinski was caught stealing in the middle.
In the nightcap the Seawolves put the first runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning, when a lead off single for Rob Leonard proved costly. Mike Tansey, on the next at bat, put two runners in scoring position when he sent a double down the left field line. After intentionally walking the next batter, Rob Dyer singled to left scoring Leonard. Justin Echevarria, who was the intentional walk, scored the second run on a perfectly dropped sacrifice bunt from, Keith Fier.
Hartford chipped into the lead in the bottom half of the inning when a lead off single to Perry turned into a run. The Hawks began the inning with back-to-back singles, with Crowley putting runners at first and second. After a wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, catcher Hebert sacrificed him self on a fly ball to deep center, allowing Perry to score. The Seawolves took the run right back in the next half inning, when a walk to Mike Stephan led to a run on a single to left for Echevarria.
Hartford and Stony Brook will close out the four-game series with a single game on Sunday beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Hartford Baseball Field. Please note the start time for Sunday's game is a change from the originally scheduled time.
