Winter Haven, FL ? The University of Hartford baseball team continued its week long furlough in the Sunshine State with a Tuesday match-up against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Gamecocks scored a lone run in the top of the 10th inning game, handing Hartford its first extra inning loss of the season.
The Hawks (1-7 overall) scored first, putting up two runs in the bottom half of the first inning. The offense began with a single to right from third-baseman Simon Kudernatsch and he scored on the next at-bat, a double in the left center gap from Mike Amendola. Amendola would score to batters later on a single down the left field line from Ben Sobocinski.
Hawks starter Zach Tarner let the Gamecocks right back into the game, allowing three earned runs in the top of the second. He led off the inning with a walk and then gave up a single to left field. He would then walk the next three batters, which sent two runs across the plate. The final run came on a sacrifice fly before an unassisted putout ended the inning.
Hartford tied the score in the third inning. A single to right center from Andy Drexel started things out. He advanced on a hit batter and a fly to right from Walker and then scored on a stolen base before a strikeout ended the inning.
Jacksonville State then regained the lead with two runs in the fourth inning before Hartford answered by taking a 6-5 advantage in the bottom half of the inning. Tarner was responsible for both runs in the top of the fourth, walking the lead off batter and then giving up a single to right to the nine hole batter. After hitting the lead off batter, Tarner was pulled from the game and replaced by Andrew Smith who would pitch the next 3.1 innings. Smith gave up a sacrifice to right field, with the second run scoring on an infield ground out.
The Hawks answered with Bobby Gorski leading off the bottom of the fourth with a single to left field. Chris Suchy then reach base on an infield throwing error. Amendola was credited with the first RBI as a run scored on his walk. Drexel picked up the next run when he singled to right before a fielding error on the shortstop allowed the third run to score.
The Gamecocks began the seventh inning with a double down the right field line from Steven Leach, who would later score the game-ting run. Leach advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a single through the left side with one out. Jacksonville State's relievers Tan Freshour and Jordan Beistline shut down the Hawks in the final 6.2 innings, never facing more than five batters in an inning.
Jacksonville State scored the game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning after Steve Sobocinski gave up a lead off walk. He then pitched in to a sacrifice bunt before giving up a double to left center, which scored the game winning run. The loss is the second of the season for Steve Sobocinski.
Offensively, the Hawks were led by Amendola and Ben Sobocinski. Amendola finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Ben Sobocinski finished with two RBI, going 1-for-3 at the plate. Also finishing with a multi-hit game was Drexel, who was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
The Hawks game against Bradley, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, has been cancelled due to travel restrictions. Hartford is scheduled to play Indiana on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
