BOX SCORE

ALBANY, N.Y. - Looking to salvage a game of their first America East series of the season, the Hartford baseball team fell behind early and could not complete a late comeback as they fell at Albany, 7-5. The Great Danes completed a three-game sweep of the Hawks in the first conference series of the season for both squads.

Anthony Mannuccia started and took the loss for the Hawks (2-23-1, 0-3). Zach Kraham got the win for Albany (10-15, 3-0).

After the Hawks went down in order in the first, Albany got their attack started right away, lining a single and a double off Mannuccia before the Hawks could get an out. Mannuccia got Brian Bullard to strike out, but Greg Muller drove in both runners with his single to right field. The Danes added two more on Kyle Crean's double in the second inning.

The Hawks got on the board thanks to an Albany miscue in the third inning. Chris Suchy led off with a walk, moving around to third when Jason Freethey followed by slapping a base hit down the right field line. After the Great Danes got the first out of the inning, Mark Sorbara hit a fly ball to left field that the Danes' left fielder Nolan Gaige misplayed, allowing Suchy to score and Sorbara to reach safely. Kraham got the next two hitters to go quietly, however, and the Hawks could do no further damage.

Albany got another run in the fourth, and Hartford responded with a run of their own in the top of the fifth. Victor Santana led off with a single to left, moving around to third when Simon Kudernatsch singled into right field. The throw, which went to third, was too late to nail Santana and Kudernatsch moved up to second. Then, with Ryan Lukach at the plate, Kraham was called for a balk, sending Santana home with Hartford's second run and moving Kudernatsch to third. Once again, though, Kraham buckled down and prevented the Hawks from putting together a big inning.

The Great Danes got single runs in the fifth and sixth to push their lead up to 7-2. Hartford was not done fighting, though, and put together a big seventh inning.

With Graham still in the game, Freethey drew a walk to get the inning started. He took second on a wild pitch, and moved up to third when Santana laced a hard-hit single to left. Sorbara followed with a line drive back up the middle, plating Freethey and moving Santana to second with still no one out.

Matt Dybus was then brought in to relieve Kraham, and got Kudernatsch to hit a shallow fly ball for the first out, too shallow to advance the runners. Lukach then came to the plate, and put down a perfectly-placed bunt, not only moving the runners up but also getting himself aboard. The bases were loaded for Matt Walker, and Dybus drilled him with a pitch, putting him aboard and forcing Santana home. The inconsistency continued for Dybus as he walked Brian Hunter, pushing Sorbara home. He settled down after that, though, keeping the Hawks from tying the score as he struck out Mike Aldrich and got Suchy to fly out.

The Hawks could not get anything mounted in the eighth or ninth, and although they got runners on base in both innings, they could not push another run across. Albany held on for its third consecutive victory.

Hartford will return to action on Wednesday in another non-conference matchup, when it hosts Iona in a single game. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Fiondella Field. Tickets are still available, and can be purchased by calling 860-768-HAWK.