GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Hartford baseball team opened its 2011 campaign on Saturday with a doubleheader at Oregon State, and came away with two tough losses, 14-3 and 16-1. Starting pitchers Anthony Mannuccia and Mike Thatcher took the losses for the Hawks. Senior Matt Walker homered and went 2-for-6 overall on the day, while junior Simon Kudernatsch drove in two runs.

Oregon State got off to a fast start in the first game, scoring four times in the first inning. Parker Berberet drove in three with his one-out, bases-loaded double and would later score on an error. The Beavers added two more in the fourth before driving Mannuccia from the game.

With sophomore Brian Rice on to pitch for the Hawks, Oregon State tacked on eight runs in the sixth inning to take a commanding 14-0 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Hartford got its first runs of 2011. After senior Mike Aldrich was hit by a pitch and junior Chris Suchy drew a walk, freshman Brian Hunter singled to load the bases. Freshman Brian Estevez then laced a single up the middle, plating Aldrich for his first career RBI. Kudernatsch followed with another single up the middle, driving in Suchy and Hunter to make it 14-3.

The second game got off to a better start for the Hawks, as Walker's second-inning blast to left-center field gave Hartford an early 1-0 lead. Thatcher did not allow a hit over his first three innings, but in the fourth, the Beavers plated four runs, although only two were earned.

The four-run fourth opened the floodgates for Oregon State, which added two in the fifth, one in the sixth, six in the seventh and three in the eighth to build their 16-1 lead. Hartford, meanwhile, managed just an infield single by Rodger Wilmot to go along with Walker's solo homer.

The Hawks will remain out west for two more games on Sunday. Hartford and Oregon State will face off at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, with the second game set to get underway at approximately 7:30 p.m.