West Hartford, CT ? The University of Hartford baseball team dropped both games of an America East doubleheader against the UMBC Retrievers by scores of 5-3 and 5-2. Hartford will look to pick up the final game of the series on Sunday with a first pitch at 1:00 p.m. at the Hartford Baseball Field on campus.
The first game took extra innings before the Retrievers scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead. They began the inning with a single to right from Joe Fowler. That led to the first run of the inning, with him scoring on a single to left from Shawn Retz. Will Delawatr was intentionally walked to put runners at second and third, but the Retz single allowed him to go to second and he advanced to third on a single to right from Wink Nolan, only to score on a single from Steve Russo.
Hartford scored first in the game with a single run in the second inning. The Hawks opened the inning with a double to right from Matt Walker. He then scored on the next at bat, a single up the middle from Mike Amendola. The Retrievers then took its first lead of the game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. They opened the inning with a triple down the left field line from Nolan. He would score on a single to right center from Mark Lemon. Russo, who reach base on a walk, scored the second run of the inning on a single down the right field line from Fowler.
UMBC extended its lead with a single run in the top of the fifth. Hartford answered back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. Adam Bowser started the offense with a one out single to left. He advanced to second on the next at bat, a routine groundball that was booted by the Retriever second baseman, putting runners on first and second. Both advanced a base on a bunt single from Simon Kudernatsch, loading the bases. Ben Sobocinski followed up the second out of the inning with a double down the right field line, scoring Bowser and Adam Grap to tie the game.
In the nightcap, the Hawks allowed three runs in the top of the third and would never lead in the game. All three runs came with two outs in the inning. The Retrievers started the offense with a two out double down the right field line from Dave Warrenfeltz, which was the first of four-straight hits for UMBC. Nolan followed the double with another extra base hit, this time a triple to right center field, scoring Warrenfeltz. Nolan then scored on a single through the right side from Scott Peddicord, who score second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Peddicord then scored on an infield single from Fowler.
Hartford chipped into the UMBC lead with two runs in the bottom of the third, the only two runs they scored in the game. Bowser led off the inning with a double down the right field line. He was followed by a single from Sobocinski, putting runners on the corners. Delawter, the starting pitcher for the nightcap, would load the bases on a hit batter, Bill Perry. After forcing a strike out for the second out of the inning, Delawter gave up a double down the right field line from Amendola, scoring Bowsert and Sobocinski.
Hartford then gave up two runs in the top of the sixth, allowing UMBC to take a 5-2 lead. The first run came courtesy of a lead off solo home run to left center from Fowler. Hawks starter Pete Moraski struck out the next batter and forced the third of the inning into a pop fly. Moraski then gave up back-to-back doubles to Russo and Rich Conlon, which led to a single run.
Chris Greiner started for Hartford in the first game, pitching the first six innings. Greiner gave up three earned runs on nine hits, while striking out seven batters. Marc Toomey gave up the final two runs of the game, suffering his third loss of the season. Toomey gave up four hits and struck out two batters in 2.1 innings of work. Closing out the game for Hartford was CJ Browne. Moraski pitched a complete game in the nightcap. He allowed five earned runs on eight hits, while striking out five batters and not walking any.
David Davita and Delawter earn the victories for the Retrievers. Davita improves to 3-4 overall. He pitched the final 2.2 innings and allowed no hits, while striking out one batter. Delawater improves to 3-3 overall. Ryan Morse pitched the seventh inning for UMBC, picking up his fourth save of the season.
