West Hartford, CT ? The University of Hartford baseball team split the final two games of a Sunday doubleheader against the Binghamton Bearcats at the Hartford Baseball Field. The Hawks won the first game by a 5-1 margin before falling by a 19-10 score in the second game. The Hawks now stand at 17-29 overall and 9-11 in America East play.
Hartford put the first runs of the day on the board in the fourth inning, with the first four batters reaching base safely, the first four on singles. Simon Kudernatsch started things off with a single to center, advancing to second on a single up the middle from Ben Sobocinski. Andy Drexel wheeled out a bunt single to load the bases, allowing for Bill Perry to drive in the first run on a fielder's choice, leaving the bases loaded. On the same play, an error on the shortstop allowed Sobocinski to score. The final run came by way of a single to left center from Matt Walker, scoring Perry who advanced to third on a passed ball.
Binghamton took one run back and threatened for more in the top of the sixth. Joe Charron started the inning with a double to center and Kyle Klee followed him with a double to left center scoring Charron. Ryan Holley then hit a single to right putting runners on the corners, but the Hawks offense came up with a non-force out fielder's choice to take out the lead runner and then forced Brian Ivan into a double play to end the inning.
The Hawks then manufactured two more runs in the sixth with two outs. Perry became the first base runner when he was hit by a pitch. Perry advanced to second on a single to center from Adam Bowser and scored on the next batter, a single to right from Walker. Bowser then scored on the third-straight single, this time from Adam Grap.
Hawks starter Marc Toomey picked up his first win of the season (1-3 overall), pitching the first five innings. He allowed one run on five hits, while walking three and striking out two. Bob Rogers pitched the final two innings, earning his first save of the season, only the second for Hartford this year. Rogers allowed three hits, no runs, gave up no walks and didn't record a strikeout.
Hartford again scored first in the nightcap, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second. Drexel started the inning with a double to right center and Perry walked to put runners on first and second. The both advanced on a failed sacrifice that was caused by a throwing error, loading the bases. After forcing the next two into infield pop-ups, Bearcats started Gio Yanuzzi gave up a triple to left field to Bowser scoring all three runs.
Binghamton came back in the top of the third to take a one run lead, all coming on a grand slam from three hole hitter Joe Charron. The Hawks regained a one run lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Walker started the inning with a double to left center and scored three batters later on a sacrifice from Brady Stouffer. Bowser, who reached on a walk and took second on a wild pitch came around to score the go ahead run on a single to left field from Sobocinski.
It was a short lived lead as the Bearcats answered with another grand slam, and five total runs in the fifth inning. The game tying run came by way of a wild pitch from Pete Moraski who came on in relief of starting pitcher Zack Tarner. The final four runs came by way of the second grand slam in the game, this time by way of Kyle Klee.
Binghamton broke the game open with seven more runs in the sixth (three) and seventh (four) innings, while Hartford was only able to grab two runs between the fifth and sixth innings. The first two came on a two-run home run from Perry, while the third came on a solo home run from Stouffer.
Hartford used eight throwers in the game with Moraski picking up the loss. Tarner started the game and pitched the first four plus innings. Moraski faced three batters and allowed three earned runs on two hits. Also seeing time on the mound for the home team was Brendan Floyd, Justin DiConzo, Rogers, John Coury, Matt Govoni and Steve Sobocinski.
The Hawks return to action on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. when they welcome the Vermont Catamounts to West Hartford to begin a four-game America East series. The four-game series with Vermont will determine the fourth team in the America East Championship the following weekend.
