West Hartford ? The University of Hartford team came from behind to score their second win of the season, a 9-8 walk-off victory. Bobby Gorski provided a bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the ninth, scoring the game winning-run, Andy Drexel who walked to start the inning. Simon Kudernatsch scores the first win of his collegiate career, while pitching to just one batter in the ninth.
Both teams got on the board early. The Blue Devils scored five runs in the first two innings, while Hartford managed two runs in the bottom of the first. CCSU struck first with a single run in the top of the first. Sean Alliare started the game with a first-pitch single to center off of Hawks starter Weston Szymanski. Allaire took second on a fielders choice two batters later and advanced to third on the same at bat because of a Hartford error. A double to left center from Pat Epps led to the first RBI of the game.
Hartford struck back in the bottom of the first. Kudernatsch started the offense with a one-out single down the left field line. Mike Amendola and Drexel followed with singles of their own, with the later hit from Drexel scoring Kudernatsch from second. Amendola would score on the next at bat, an infield groundout from Ben Sobocinski.
The Blue Devils regained the lead in the second with four runs. Richie Tri and Sean Parker led off the inning with singles. Allaire knocked in Tri on a single to right field for the first run of the inning, while Parker scored on an infield groundout. Jay Schillaci provided the muscle for the final two runs, sending a long ball over the left field fence scoring him and Allaire, taking a 5-2 lead.
The Hawks cut the deficit to one with two ruins in the fourth inning. Drexel worked a lead off walk and took second on an infield single from Sobocinksi. Drexel was able to score, after stealing third, on a throwing error on the catcher as Sobocinski stole second. Sobocinski then stole third and scored on an infield groundout, with Matt Walker scoring the RBI.
Central scored three more runs, one in the fifth and their final two runs in the sixth inning. The Hawks then battled for three runs in the bottom of the sixth on four hits. Sobocinski started the offense with a one-out infield single, scoring from first on the next at bat a double to left center from Rodger Wilmot. Wilmot then scored with two outs on a single to center field from Gorski, with Gorski scoring on a second double to left center, this time from Andrew Siano.
Hartford then made walks in the eighth and ninth innings pay off. Gorski scored the run in the eight after walking with one out. He scored on the next at bat, a triple from Siano, the second triple of the season for the rookie. Drexel led of the ninth working his second walk of the game. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then took third on back-to-back walks from Dan Markoya, which loaded the bases. Gorski then sent a hard hit ball to third, which allowed Drexel to score the game-winning run.
For the game, Hartford had two players finish with two RBI, Gorski and Siano. Gorski finished the game going 2-for-4 at the plate, while Siano was 3-for-4 on the afternoon. Three other players finished with multiple hits in the game, Amendola, Drexel and Sobocinski all had two hits.
Kudernatsch was one of four pitchers used by Hartford in the game. Szymanski pitched 5.1 innings in his fourth start of the season. He was credited with all eight runs, seven of which were earned. He allowed 10 hits and struck out six batters. Steve Sobocinki saw 2.1 innings of relief, while Zach Tarner pitched an inning before Kudernatsch came in to close out the game, striking out the only batter he faced. Markoya picked up the loss for Central, his first decision of the season.
The Hawks welcome Sacred Heart to the Hartford Baseball Field on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. for a double header.
