Albany, NY - The University of Hartford baseball team split the final two games of its four-game series with the Albany Great Danes on Sunday. Sophomore catcher Mike Amendola led the Hawks over the doubleheader with three hits and four RBI, including a two-run home run in the 11th inning of the second game to put Hartford ahead for good. The Hawks are now 9-13 overall and 3-1 in America East play.
The Hawks dropped game one by a 6-2 decision in seven innings, but came back to win the second game, in extra innings, with a 3-1 final. Steve Dabroski served up his first win of the season, pitching the final two innings in the lengthened game. Pete Moraski suffered his first loss of the season in the first game, pitching his second start.
Hartford was held to four hits in the first game, all four coming from different players. Bill Perry, Matt Walker, Mike Amendola and Adam Grap all finished with one hit in the early game. Amendola made his it count, a two run single through the left side in the top of the first inning. Three of the Hawks hits came with two outs in the first half inning when Perry single, Walker doubled and Amendola provided enough time for both to score.
Morasksi pitched the first four innings of the seven inning game. He allowed six hits and five earned runs, while walking and striking out two batters. CJ Browne came on in relief, pitching the final two innings allowing one earned run. Hartford's two runs in the first held as the only runs scored until the Great Danes tied the game in the third inning. They then scored four runs in the fifth to go ahead for good.
In the second game, the Great Danes struck first, scoring their only run of the game in the third inning. That run held up until Hartford pushed a single run across in the eight, a run that would force extra innings, the second needing additional innings.
Amendola was the only player on the day to finish with a multi-hit game, connecting on 2-for-4 in the second game. He also picked up two RBI, both coming on a two run blast in the 11th inning, scoring Perry who walked to begin the inning. The long ball is the third of the season for Amendola.
Also finishing with hits was Ben Sobocinski, Walker, Grap, Adam Bowser and Drew Sgro. Marc Toomey started the game for Hartford. He pitched the first seven and one-third innings allowing just one run, an earned run, on four hits. He also struck out four batters. Zack Tarner and Justin DiConzo both saw time in a relief role. Tarner pitched one and one-third innings and allowed one hits and struck out one batter, while DiConzo pitched one-third of an inning. Dabroski's win came after two innings of work, allowing just one hit and striking out one batter.
The Hawks will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Worcester for a mid-week match up against the Holy Cross Crusaders. Hartford will throw the first pitch at 3:00 p.m.
