Las Cruces, NM - The University of Hartford baseball team dropped a 5-4 decision, allowing the New Mexico State Aggies battle from behind to take the victory in the season opener for Hartford on Friday night. Hartford and NM State will play a double header on Saturday night with the first game scheduled for 5:05 p.m. eastern time.
The Hawks got on the board first putting up three runs in the third inning. After a line out by the lead-off hitter, Brady Stouffer reached base on a single through the left side, which was followed by two consecutive walks. With the bases loaded, Mike Amendola hit a single through the left side for two RBIs and that was followed with an RBI single to center field by Andy Drexel.
NM State earned its first runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Wade Reynoso singled through the left side to reach with one out, setting up Bryan Marquez who followed that with his fifth home run of the season.
Hartford added to its lead in the top of the fifth, with Ben Sobocinski reaching on a fielder's choice. He advanced around the horn on a hit batsman and a another fielder's choice, before scoring on a balk, giving Hartford a 4-2 lead.
The Aggies added a single run on a solo homer from Marquez, his second of the game, in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored the go-ahead runs in the eighth. With two outs in the bottom half of the eighth, the Aggies rallied with Nate Shaver reaching on a hit batter. He then scored on the third home run of the game for New Mexico State, this time from Jared Jordan.
Steve Sobocinski took the loss for Hartford, pitching the final three innings in relief of starter Weston Szymanski. Szymanski allowed two earned runs on three hits, with two strikeouts in his five innings of work. Sobocinski allowed the final three runs, all earned, on three hits and two walks. Sebastien Vandette scored his third victory for New Mexico State. He pitched the final four innings of the game, not allowing a hit and striking out four batters.
Offensively, the Hawks were led by Amendola, who finished 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI. Kudernatsch, Stouffer and Drexel all added hits. Drexel picked up the only other RBI for Hartford, his first of the season.
