Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - In their first America East action of the season, the Hartford baseball team had chances to win both ends of a doubleheader with UMBC, but fell twice, 6-4 and 14-9. Steve Sobocinski went all seven innings in Game One for the hard-luck loss, and Brian Rice took the defeat in Game Two, which went to 12 innings before the Retrievers broke open a game in which Hartford committed seven errors, three in the 12th inning.

Hartford scored four runs in the third inning of Game One, forcing starter Andrew Germuth from the game. Seven straight Hawks reached base in the third, including an RBI single from senior Mike Amendola and an RBI double from junior Andy Drexel.

Germuth was pulled in favor of Ed Bach after walking Mike Aldrich, and although Bach walked in a run by issuing a free pass to Rodger Wilmot, he shut the door on Hartford after that. The Hawks managed just one hit over the game's final four innings, and UMBC scored two in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie and take the 6-4 decision.

Game Two appeared to be going Hartford's way thanks in large part to a five-run third inning. With one out, sophomore Andrew Siano drove a slicing fly ball to deep right field. The drive sailed up and over the right-center field wall for his first collegiate home run. That tied the score at one, and the Hawks followed with three consecutive singles from Victor Santana, Amendola and Drexel. Junior Mike Aldrich then ripped a double to right center, scoring Amendola and Drexel and giving Hartford a 4-1 lead. Rodger Wilmot's single moments later made it 5-1.

Siano would not be the only Hawk to slam his first collegiate home run on Saturday. Senior Jon Ricco, who started the game at second base, sent the first pitch he saw in the fourth inning slicing down the right field line. As Michael Pesci gave chase, the ball kept soaring until it had cleared the wall in right field. Ricco circled the bases with his first home run as a Hawk, making it 6-1.

UMBC chipped away with one in the fifth and one in the seventh. Hartford added an insurance run in teh eighth when Amendola drove in Siano with a double down the left field line.

Hartford led 7-3 going to the ninth, but freshman Anthony Mannuccia could not close the door. UMBC, aided by some sloppy defense by the Hawks, crossed the plate four times in the inning to knot the score at seven and, after the Hawks went quietly in the bottom of the ninth, send the game to extra innings.

UMBC plated a run in the top of the tenth, but Hartford did not back down. Bobby Gorski led off with a single, and although Ricco was not able to bunt him over, he did reach first safely when the Retrievers opted to nip Gorski at second base. Siano and Santana followed with singles to load the bases, and Amendola - who finished with five hits in the second game - laced a single to right that scored Ricco and tied the game. Unfortunately for the Hawks, they could not push another run across and the game continued.

The storyline played itself out again in the eleventh. Once again, the Retrievers pushed across a run in the top of the inning and once again, Hartford knotted it in the bottom. This time, Mike Aldrich led off with a double, and after Wilmot sacrificed him over to third, freshman Erik Figueredo tied the score with a sacrifice fly to center field.

In the twelfth, however, the Hawks' careless defense once again caught up to them. Three errors allowed the Retrievers to score five times - all of which were unearned. This time, Hartford had no answer in the bottom of the inning as UMBC emerged victorious in both ends of the doubleheader.

Hartford and UMBC will be back in action on Sunday for another doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon. Tickets are still available by calling 860-768-HAWK. They can also be purchased at the gate.