BOX SCORE

ORONO, Maine - The second-to-last weekend of the season is in the books for the Hartford baseball team, as they fell for a third straight game at Maine on Sunday, 3-2 in 10 innings. The Hawks got a strong showing from their pitching staff, particularly freshman Kevin Veilleux, but managed just five hits off two Maine pitchers.

Sophomore Brian Rice took the loss for the Hawks (4-41-1, 1-18), allowing one unearned run in the tenth inning as Maine scored the game-winner without hitting a ball out of the infield. Stephen Perakslis got the win for the Black Bears (26-21, 15-5).

Maine took an early 1-0 lead when Tyler Patzalek's ground ball scored Mike Fransoso in the first inning. Hartford evened the score in the third, with Brian Hunter lining a double down the left field line to lead the inning off, scoring moments later on Brian Estevez's double down the right field line.

In the fourth inning, Matt Walker drew a walk to get the Hawks started. Simon Kudernatsch then rolled a grounder to second base which appeared to be a potential double play ball, but it was misplayed by second baseman Troy Black, and everyone was safe. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch by Maine starter A.J. Bazdanes, and Walker scored on Rodger Wilmot's RBI groundout for the second out of the inning.

That would be all the offense the Hawks could muster, as they managed just one more hit in regulation on a cold and rainy day in Orono. Maine tied the score in the bottom of the fourth as Alex Calbick led off with a single and eventually scampered home on a wild pitch.

With two outs and no one on in the third inning, sophomore starter Anthony Mannuccia was pulled from the game for Hartford. Freshman Kevin Veilleux was brought in, making his first appearance since a complete game shutout of Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday afternoon. He continued his strong week, pitching the next 6.1 innings, allowing just the one run while striking out six and conceding just three hits.

In the top of the tenth inning, Estevez singled back through the middle, the Hawks' first hit since the sixth inning. He took second on an error, then moved to third on a fly ball off the bat of Mark Sorbara. Estevez was stranded at third, though, as Perakslis got Chris Suchy to strike out to end the threat.

Maine did not give the Hawks another chance, taking advantage of a Hartford miscue in the bottom of the tenth. After Rice hit Calbick to lead things off, Fran Whitten put down a sacrifice bunt attempt back towards the mound. Rice threw the ball away, though, and everyone was safe, with Calbick moving around to third base. Pat Thibodeau then put down another bunt, this one good for a bunt single as Calbick slid home with the game's winning run, handing the Hawks their third straight loss.

Hartford will get back on the field on Tuesday, wrapping up its home schedule with a single game against Rhode Island. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. Brian Irizarry will have the call on HartfordHawks.com All-Access.