Storrs, CT ? The University of Hartford baseball team dropped the first of two mid-week games at the Connecticut Huskies 4-3 on Tuesday afternoon. The Hawks were held to just four hits on the day, all but one of them singles. Hartford is now 12-16 overall, while the Huskies improve to 19-18.
UConn struck first with a hit in the bottom half of the first inning. Hawks starting pitcher Zack Tarner gave up an infield single to leadoff batter Pierre LePage. A sacrifice bunt put LePage at second and he scored on the third batter of the inning, Pat Mahoney's single to left center.
Hartford tied things up in the next half inning. Connecticut starter Elliott Glynn hit Adam Grap to start the inning and Grap would score the first run. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Adam Bowser and took third on an infield groundout. Rookie Rodger Wilmot came through with a double down the left field line with two outs allowing Grap to tie the game.
Both teams put up runs in the fourth inning. Hartford put the first on the board a run that would turn out to be unearned. Glynn gave up a leadoff walk to Ben Sobocinski who took second on a failed pick off attempt. The next batter, Bowser, sent a single to center field, allowing Sobocinski to score from second, giving the Hawks a 2-1 that would be short lived. The Huskies evened things when their leadoff batter reached base on an error. He came around to score on a single to right center field from Harold Brantley.
Both teams again scored in the sixth inning, keeping the score knotted, this time at three. Hartford's run again took advantage of a lead off walk, this time to freshman Simon Kudernatsch. He stole second and then took third on an infield groundout from Bill Perry. Kudernatsch was driven in on the Hawks third hit of the day, a single through the left side with two outs from Grap.
The Hawks turned to one of their closers, Sobocinski, in the eighth inning. He allowed a hit with two outs but forced the next batter into a fielder's choice to end the inning. UConn also allowed a hit with two outs from Drew Sgro, but relief pitcher Matt Karl struck out Wilmot swinging.
The Huskies went into the bottom of the ninth looking to win in regulation and worked a leadoff single from LePage to start the rally. He took second on a sacrifice bunt and third on an infield fielder's choice, taking out the middle runner. With two outs and runners on the corner, Mike Nemeth picked up his second hit of the game, a single through the right side, scoring LePage and handing Sobocinski his second loss of the season.
Hartford used five total pitchers. Tarner lasted five innings before being relieved by Steve Dabroski who pitched one-third inning. Tarner allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits and struck out five batters. Weston Szymanski and Pete Moraski a pair of the Hawks starting four also saw time in relief. Szymanski pitched two-thirds of an inning, while Moraski pitched a complete inning.
The Hawks will return to action at Rhode Island on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
