BOX SCORE

DOVER, Del. - As the Hartford baseball team's game at Delaware State entered the late innings on Sunday afternoon, it appeared that the Hawks were headed for another defeat, trailing the host Hornets 5-2. But then, the bats came to life as Hartford scored twice in the seventh, twice in the eighth and twice more in the ninth to claim an 8-5 victory to close out their spring break road trip. The win was the first of the season for the Hawks.

Sophomore Anthony Mannuccia pitched two innings of hitless relief to pick up the victory. Freshman Ryan Lukach and senior Matt Walker homered, and freshman Brian Estevez drove in the eventual game-winning run when he drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning.

Hartford (1-11-1) has started to show signs of life on the offensive end during their series with the Hornets. The Hawks scored a season-high six runs in a losing effort on Saturday, then outdid themselves on Sunday with their eight-run output.

Delaware State got on the board first on Sunday, touching freshman starter Hunter Englehart for two runs in the first and two unearned runs in the second.

The Hawks got on the board in the third, with Lukach roping a drive over the head of Delaware State center fielder Joey Babuca that went to the wall. Lukach wheeled around to third with a leadoff triple, and he scored when Estevez sent a sacrifice fly to right two batters later.

Hartford got another run back in the fifth. Again it was Lukach sparking things, this time with a one-out walk. He took a big lead off first, provoking a throw from Delaware State starter Ryan Haas. Haas, however, threw the ball down the right field line, allowing Lukach to take off and motor around to third. Freshman Mark Sorbara followed with what should have been a routine grounder to first, but the ball was mishandled and Lukach scored on the error.

Delaware State extended their lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth, and it remained 5-2 through the sixth before the Hawks' comeback effort went into full throttle. With Haas out of the game, freshman Alex Gouin singled to lead off the inning in front of Lukach, who stepped to the plate and launched his first collegiate home run to the power alley in right-center field.

With the Hawks down just one after Lukach's blast, Hartford closed the gap in a hurry in the eighth inning. Leading off the inning, Walker sent a drive to the deepest part of the ballpark, clearing the fence for his second homer of the season.

Freshman Brian Hunter kept things going with a single, moving to second when junior Simon Kudernatsch executed a perfect sacrifice bunt. Gouin then walked, and after Lukach was retired, Sorbara drew a walk to load the bases. Up stepped Estevez, who calmly eyed the offerings of Josh Patman until he, too, had drawn a base-on-balls, forcing Hunter to the plate.

After working out of a two-out jam in the bottom of the eighth, the Hawks added some much-needed insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Freshman James Alfonso started things with a single, then came all the way around to score when Walker roped a double down the left field line. Hunter pushed Walker over to third with a sac bunt, and Kudernatsch's single to right drove Walker home with the Hawks' eighth run.

Gouin, who had come on in relief in the eighth inning, set down the Hornets quietly in the bottom of the ninth as the Hawks secured their first victory.

With that win under their belt, the Hawks will now play their first home game of the season on Wednesday, when they welcome the Massachusetts Minutemen into Fiondella Field at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are still available, and can be purchased at the Malcolm and Brenda Berman Athletics Box Office at the Reich Family Pavilion, or at the gate on game day. Fans can call 860-768-HAWK for ticketing information.