West Hartford, CT - The University of Hartford baseball team opened its four-game series, the regular season finale, with the Albany Great Danes scoring a Friday afternoon sweep. The Hawks won the first game 9-3 and scored an 8-6 win in the second game. Seniors Ben Sobocinski and Weston Szymanski picked up the victories in their final games on the mound.
Sobocinski pitched the first 5.2 innings and was responsible for all three Albany runs scored. All three runs were earned on three total hits. He also struck out one batter and walked six total. Albany's three runs came as two in the fifth and one more in the sixth. The two fifth inning runs were scored on a two-run home run from Gary Pitcheralle. The final Great Danes run was made possible by a leadoff walk, with Ryan Gugel scoring on a sacrifice fly from Mike Tirri.
The Hawks offense exploded with nine runs over the fifth and sixth inning, to put the game out of reach. Rodger Wilmot led off the fifth with a double to left center and took third on an infield ground out. He then scored on a sacrifice fly from Andy Drexel, which amounted to the 45th RBI of the season for the sophomore.
With two outs and the bases empty, the Hawks scored five-straight hits, all singles, with led to the next four runs. The game winning run was scored by Mike Amendola who originally had an infield single to reach. He then scored on a throwing error by the catcher, as he over threw second base on an attempt to catch Sobocinski stealing.
In the sixth inning, all four runs came with two outs. Wilmot again started the inning with a hit, his third of the game, with a single up the middle. He became the first run as Andrew Siano provided the second hit of the inning, another single up the middle. Bobby Gorski then hit a bases loaded single, again up the middle, which scored two runs and put the Hawks up 9-3.
At the plate, Wilmot led the Hawks going 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Three other players finished with multiple hits, Brady Stouffer, Siano and Amendola. Sobocinski led the Hawks with three RBI, while Gorski also added multiple RBI with his two.
Szymanski pitched his first complete game win of the season for Hartford in the second game. The win is also the first of the season for the right hander, who closes out his collegiate career with a 17-20 record and a 4.65 ERA. With his nine complete innings today, Szymanski is the all-time leader in innings pitched at Hartford.
For the game, he finished with 12 hits against him, allowing six earned runs. He did not allow a walk in nine innings and struck out three batters. The hurler opened the game by sitting down the first 10 batters in order and did not allow a runner to get past second base until the seventh inning. Through the first six innings, Szymanski allowed only two hits.
The Hawks got ahead early and led by as much as 5-0 through the first six innings. The Hawks scored single runs in the first and second inning and added three more in the fifth. The final four runs in that span were all unearned as the Great Danes finished the game with six total errors.
Hartford came out swinging in the second game with three-straight singles with one out to score the first run of the game. Sobocinski provided the first hit, a blooper to center field. Amendola followed him with a single up the middle and Drexel completed the three with an RBI single through the right side, which scored Sobocinski.
In the second inning, a throwing error on a pick off attempt allowed Wilmot to take third base where he was driven home on an infield groundout from Gorski. In the fifth, Sobocinski, Drexel and Wilmot all picked up RBI's. Alex Bulger led off the inning with a single to center field and took second on a second throwing error on the pitcher. He then scored on a one-out single up the middle form Sobocinski. A fielder's choice from Drexel allowed Sobocinski to score and then Drexel scored the third run on a single through the right side from Wilmot.
The Hawks added a single run in the seventh and two more in the eight to take an 8-3 lead into the top of the ninth inning. Drexel and Sobocinski picked up the RBI's for Hartford in those innings, while the third run was made possible on a wild pitch.
In the top of the ninth, Szymanski gave up three runs, but forced Pitcheralle into a foul out to end the game. Pitcheralle led the Great Danes on the day with two home runs, a two run blast in the first game and a solo four-bagger in the second game.
Leading Hartford offensively on the day was Sobocinski and Siano. Sobocinski finished the day going 5-for-7 at the plate, including a perfect 4-for-4 in the second game. He led both team with seven RBI and also scored three runs. Siano finished with a 4-for-9 effort at the plate with three RBI. Also hitting well was Wilmot, who finished 4-for-7 with a run scored and three RBI.
Hartford and Albany will close out the series with a Saturday double header, which is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. first pitch. Prior to tomorrow's doubleheader, the Hawks will honor their four seniors; Drew Sgro, Ben Sobocinski, Brady Stouffer and Weston Szymanski.
