GAME ONE BOX SCORE
GAME TWO BOX SCORE

ORONO, Maine - Coming off one of its strongest performances of the season, the Hartford baseball team could not keep its momentum rolling as it dropped the first two games of a conference series at Maine on Saturday, 13-4 and 12-2. Maine jumped on the Hawks' starting pitching in both games, building up big early leads that Hartford could not overcome.

Ryan Lukach started and took the loss in the first game for Hartford (4-40-1, 1-17). Hunter Englehart was the losing pitcher in Game Two. Keith Bilodeau and Jeffrey Gibbs were the victors for Maine (25-21, 14-5).

The Hawks actually got on the board first in Game One. Brendan Behm, making a rare appearance at the top of the Hartford batting order, drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on the first of two Chris Suchy doubles in the game when Suchy split the gap in right-center field.

The same scenario would play itself out in the third inning, with Behm walking and scoring from first on a double by Suchy. In the meantime, however, Maine had plated a run in the first and three in the second inning. The Black Bears would pile on four more runs in the third off reliever Tyler Corsi, who was brought on to get out of the second inning after Lukach was charged with the first four Maine runs.

Maine would score in each of the first four innings, building a 13-3 lead. Rodger Wilmot scored the third Hartford run, stealing second after he was hit by a pitch and scoring moments later on Brian Hunter's RBI single.

Hartford would add an unearned run in the seventh when Alex Bulger doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. The Hawks could not get any more offense started, however, going quietly as a cold rain fell in Orono.

By the time Suchy singled to right in the fourth inning for the Hawks' first hit in Game Two, Hartford was already down 10-0. Maine had scored four runs in the first inning - two of which were unearned - before adding two in the second and four more in the third. Mike Fransoso's home run to right in the third was the Black Bears' second dinger of the game and forced Englehart out of the contest.

Gibbs kept the Hawks off the board over 8.0 innings of work, striking out five while walking four. Hartford managed just two hits off the starter, but tagged reliever Joe Miller for two runs in the top of the ninth inning. Suchy drew a one-out walk, and Matt Walker was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. After Simon Kudernatsch walked, Wilmot laced a single back up the middle, plating Suchy and Walker. Miller settled down and retired the final two Hawks to wrap up the victory for Maine.

Hartford and Maine will conclude their series on Sunday afternoon with a single game at 1:00 p.m.