GAME ONE BOX SCORE
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
CORVALLIS, Oregon - The Hartford baseball team fell twice to Oregon State on Sunday, completing a four-game sweep at the hands of the Beavers. Hartford dropped the first game 9-1, then came back and lost Game Two 13-2.
The Hawks got on the board first in Game One, as junior Simon Kudernatsch led off the game with a sharp single to left field. He moved to second on a groundout by freshman James Alfonso and scored when senior Andy Drexel ripped a single back through the middle. Drexel would proceed to steal second and moved to third on senior Rodger Wilmot's groundout, but was left stranded there as senior Mike Aldrich flew out to end the inning.
Unfortunately for Hartford, that would be all the damage they could muster in the first game, as they collected just four hits the rest of the way. Freshman Kevin Veilleux took the loss, going 4.0 innings and allowing all nine Oregon State runs, eight of which were earned. Freshman Alex Gouin came in to close the door on the hosts and did just that, holding the Beavers to just one hit over their final four innings in his first collegiate pitching outing.
In the second game, Oregon State jumped all over starting pitcher Tyler Corsi, touching him for fuor runs in the first inning and three more in the fourth to build a 7-0 lead. Corsi struck out two batters, but the Hawks could not get their own offense started. No Hartford runner advanced past first base until Wilmot singled, took second on a wild pitch and was ultimately stranded at third in the sixth inning.
With the Beavers up 8-0, Hartford got on the board in the seventh inning. Alfonso led off with a double laced to center field. After a pop up for the first out, freshman Ryan Lukach beat out an infield single down the third base line, putting runners on first and second with one out. Oregon State got freshman Brian Estevez to strike out, but Kudernatsch picked him up with a rope down the right field line for a double, plating both Alfonso and Lukach.
Oregon State added five insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, ending any hopes of a Hartford comeback.
The Hawks will return home next, opening the season at Fiondella Field on Wednesday afternoon when they welcome in Central Connecticut. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. It will be the Hawks' only home contest over their first 13 games, as they will embark on a Mid-Atlantic road trip to Radford, Virginia Tech and Delaware State over the next 10 days before getting back to Fiondella FIeld on March 23.
