ORONO, Maine - The Hartford baseball team hits the road over the weekend, visiting Maine for its first America East road trip of the season. The Hawks have gone 2-5 in their first two conference series of the year, both at home.
Despite the Hawks' slow start to the conference schedule, they sit just two games back of Maine for second place in the league. Maine has gone 4-3 in the early going, taking two of three from Albany and splitting a four-game set with Binghamton. This weekend will be the first home series of conference play for the Black Bears.
Although the Hawks boast the America East's home run leader in junior Andy Drexel (seven homers), they will be facing the most potent offensive attack in the league in the Black Bears. Maine leads the league in nearly every offensive category, including average (.312), on-base percentage (.399), doubles (77), triples (20) and home runs (29). Taylor Lewis, who hit for the cycle against Albany in the conference's opening weekend, leads Maine with a .409 average. He has hit 11 triples, adding four home runs and 43 RBIs.
To combat that offensive output, Hartford will look for strong outings from its top two starters, Steve Sobocinski and Chris Greiner. Sobocinski has gone at least seven innings in three of his last four starts, and threw the Hawks' only shutout of the season on March 26, a three-hitter against Sacred Heart. Greiner, meanwhile, has allowed just three earned runs in his last 12.0 innings pitched, lowering his ERA to 5.71. The junior picked up his second victory of the season last time out against Quinnipiac, going 5.0 innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run in the 10-4 victory over the Bobcats.
Hartford and Maine met for two doubleheaders in West Hartford last season, with the Hawks taking one of the four games. The last time Hartford visited Maine, they split a four-game set in 2008. Chris Greiner went the distance in an 8-4 victory that season.
In recent days, the Hawks have benefited from the clutch hitting of Mike Aldrich, who has boasted a .353 average (6-for-17) over the last five games. Bobby Gorski has also made an impact, driving in three runs and hitting a game-winning home run against Albany on Monday. Matt Walker also has three RBIs and two doubles in that time frame.
First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader will be at 3 p.m. The Hawks and Black Bears will be back at it on Sunday, playing a single game at 1 p.m. Hartford will then be back home to welcome in Dartmouth for a single game on Tuesday. Tickets for that game are still available by calling 860-768-HAWK. They can also be purchased at the gate.
