West Hartford, CT - The Hawks win went to junior right handed hurler Marc Toomey (Newington, CT) who is 2-0 on the season. Toomey came in relief, pitching four and two-thirds innings and allowed just one hit, while striking out three batters. The loss in the first game was charged to starter Zach Stefka. Stefka pitched the first three innings, before Weston Szymanski came in relief. Stefka allowed three runs (all earned) on five hits. Szymanski allowed one unearned run in six innings on three hits, while striking out five batters.
Adam Flaherty started the second game for Hartford, pitching four complete innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on five hits. Also seeing time on the mound in the second game was Pete Moraski. He pitched two and a third innings and allowed two runes (both earned) on one hits and two walk, while striking out two batters. In total the Hawks pitcher struck out 16 batters over 20 innings.
The Hawks bats were led by Chris Hebert and Bill Perry. Hebert finished with a team best five hits, while Perry added four hits, including three extra-base hits in the first game (two doubles and a home run). Six different players finished with a multi-hit day for the Hawks. Erik Price and Ben Sobocinski both added three hits, while Ryan Crowley and Brady Stouffer each finished with two hits.
NJIT (13-26 overall) put its first runs of the day on the board in the third inning when the first two batters of the inning reached on singles. They would both come around to score before a solo home run from Kwesi Mitchell, the first of two home runs for the senior outfielder. The Highlanders added one more run in the fifth inning when Derrick McCain reached base on an error and advanced to score on an sacrifice fly to center field from Mike Turner.
The Hawks only runs of the first game came in the eighth inning on a pair of solo home runs from Stouffer and Perry. Crowley also reached base in that inning, but was stranded by back-to-back put outs from the second baseman. The Hawks were held without a runner in the ninth inning, allowing for Cory Kuzmik to pick up his fifth save of the season.
In the second game, the Highlanders put the first runs on the board courtesy of a three-run bomb from Mitchell in the first inning. The Hawks chipped into the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Greg Cinelli and Hebert led off the inning by reaching, the first on a hit batter and the second on a walk. The first hit of the day from Sobocinski scored Cinelli, with Hebert scoring on a wild pitch.
NJIT answered back, scoring a run in the top of the third inning, when Matt Schlitter reached on a double, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a double steal. Hartford answered right back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, to take their first lead of the game. After a ground out started the inning, Perry walked and Crowley singled allowing Perry to take third. He scored on the next at bat, a sacrifice to left field from Price. Crowley would then score, from first, on a triple down the right field line from Cinelli. Hebert then sent a double to the right center field wall, scoring Cinelli, before the Hawks popped up to end the inning.
Hartford added to its lead with a single run in the fourth inning, after Sobocinski reached base on an error, only to score on a second error on the next at bat. The Highlanders weren't going to let it slip away, retaking the lead with three runs in the fifth inning. The first two came courtesy of back-to-back doubles from Miguel Lugo and Craig Binkiewicz. The Hawks would hold the Highlanders to just one more run in the game, which came off a lead off walk in the seventh inning.
Hartford was able to tie the score with single runs in the sixth and seventh inning, forcing extra innings for the second time in three games. The Hawks heroics this time were left to a senior and a sophomore. Hebert opened up the bottom of the 11th inning with an infield single, which hit off of the pitcher. After being replaced by a pinch runner, Adam Bowser laid down a perfect bunt to third base, allowing Jon Ricco to take second base. He would then score on the next at bat a double to right center field, which eluded the diving effort of the center fielder.
