West Hartford, CT - The University of Hartford baseball team opened its final conference series of the season with a complete game from Weston Szymanski for his fifth win of the season, 7-2 over the Maine Black Bears. The Hawks improve to 13-30 overall and 9-11 in America East action and will continue the series with a Mother's Day double header beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the Hartford Baseball Field.
Szymanski took a four-hit shutout into the ninth inning before allowing two lead off doubles, three hits total in the inning, scoring two runs, but it wasn't enough for Maine (20-23, 7-9). Szymanski finished the game allowing seven hits and two runs (both earned), while striking out five batters. Jose Mendoza took the loss for Maine, he is now 1-5 overall.
The Hawks first four batters all finished with a pair of hits, with Greg Cinelli leading the way for the team with two hits and two RBI. Brady Stouffer, Ben Sobocinski, Matt O'Connell and Bill Perry all added two hits, with Perry, Cinelli and Stouffer all smacking doubles. Erik Price had the big hit of the day, a two run triple, his team leading third of the season.
The Hawks struck first in the fourth inning when back-to-back lead off hits from Perry and Adam Bowser would come around to score on Price's triple. Price would then be driven home on a two-out single to left from O'Connell. A lead off single from Sobocinski would score one more run in the fifth inning, coming courtesy of a throwing error on the pitcher attempting a pick off.
Hartford added three insurance runs in the sixth inning, knocking the Maine starter, Mendoza, out of the game after six and one-third innings of work. After striking the lead off batter out looking, Mendoza allowed the next three batters on base with a walk, single and double, before a Cinelli single to left scored two runs, putting the Hawks on top 7-0.
Szymanski allowed back-to-back doubles to start the ninth, with the second breaking the shut out, scoring Curt Smith. Joel Barret, who recorded the first RBI of the game for Maine, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Kevin Jackson. In total, Maine stranded five runners on the base paths.
The Hawks and Black Bears will continue the four-game series with a double header on Sunday, beginning at 12:00 p.m. Hartford head coach Jeff Calcaterra will honor his four seniors prior to the game; Ryan Crowley, Adam Flaherty, Zach Stefkaand Chris Hebert.
