West Hartford, CT - The University of Hartford baseball team (13-30, 5-13 America East) split its Sunday doubleheader with the Stony Brook Seawolves at the Hartford Baseball Field. The Hawks won the first game by a 4-3 score, before losing the second game 17-1. Cory Beahm pitched a gem for the Hawks in game one, a complete game allowing three runs on five total hits.
The Hawks scored early with three runs in the first two inning, two in the first and a single run in the second inning. After striking the first Hawks batter of the game out, Stony Brook starter Nick Tropeano gave up three-straight hits, two singles and a double. The second single, from Andy Drexel, scored Simon Kudernatsch, who singled to reach, for the first run of the game. Mike Amendola who doubled to reach base, scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly from Brady Stouffer.
In the second inning, the Hawks Matt Walker led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Walker took third on a balk and then scored on a single up the middle from Drew Sgro to go ahead 3-1.
The Seawolves (27-19, 12-8 AE) chipped away at the lead throughout the game, scoring single runs off solo home runs in the second, third and the tying run in the sixth inning. Mike Tansey hit the first Stony Brook home run in the second inning, his 10th of the season. Rob Dyer followed him with a two out home run to right center field, his 11th of the season, to pull within 3-2. Nick Thode rounded out the home runs for the Seawolves, knocking a lead off long ball to left field tying the game in the sixth.
Hawks starter, Beahm, sat down the bottom of Stony Brook's order in order in the top of the seventh inning, leaving the work to the hitters, what would be the three, four and five hole hitters in the bottom half of the inning. Amendola led off the inning lining out to center field. He was followed by two-straight hits, a single from Drexel and a double to Stouffer putting both runners in scoring position. After intentionally walking Ben Sobocinski to load the bases, Walker hit a weak ball down the first base line, which was fielded and thrown home, where Stony Brook catcher Pat Cantwell pulled his foot off the plate, allowing Drexel to score the game winning run.
Beahm threw a complete game for the Hawks, the first of his collegiate career, and recorded his third win of the season (3-3 overall). He allowed three runs on five total hits, while striking out three batters and walking none. Beahm threw a total of 80 pitches in the game, 58 of which were strikes.
For the Seawolves, Nick Tropeano pitched a complete game and suffered his first loss of the season, 5-1 overall. He allowed four earned runs on 13 total hits with two walks and two strike outs. All five hits for the Seawolves came from different players.
At the plate, five Hawks finished with multiple hits in the game, Kudernatsch, Drexel, Stouffer, Walker and Jon Ricco all finished with two hits, while Drexel, Stouffer, Walker and Sgro provided the RBI's for Hartford.
In the second game, Hartford kept it close for the first four innings, before allowing seven runs in the fifth inning and then six more of the sixth and seventh inning, putting the game out of reach for the Hawks. Zach Tarner suffered the loss on the mound. He pitched the first 4.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Bob Rogers, Steve Sobocinski, Andrew Smith and Myles Kelly all saw time in relief for Hartford, with Smith seeing the most time, pitching two innings. Smith (three), Sobocinski (four) and Smith (six) were all credited with allowing runs.
At the plate, the Hawks were held to five hits, with Andrew Siano the only player to record more than one hit, finishing with two. Drexel, Walker and Ricco all recorded hits for the Hawks. Marc Brown scored the victory for Stony Brook. He pitched the first five innings, allowing one unearned run on five hits and struck out five batters.
The Hawks will close out the regular season with a four-game series against the Albany Great Danes on Friday and Saturday May 15-16. The series is scheduled to begin with a doubleheader on Friday. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.
