BOX SCORE
West Hartford, Conn. – The Hartford baseball team picked up its largest victory of the season on Wednesday afternoon, defeating the Fairfield Stags 9-1 at Fiondella Field. Sophomore Brian Hunter scored his first win of the season for the Hawks (5-17 overall), while senior Simon Kudernatsch led the team at the plate going 3-of-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Hunter, who made his third start of the season, pitched 5.1 innings and allowed the Stags only run of the game, an earned run in the sixth inning. In total, Hunter allowed three hits and struck out eight batters, a career-high for the right hander. Freddy Andujar and Charlie Moran each saw time in relief for Hartford. Andujar worked 2.2 innings without allowing a hit and recording four strikeouts, while Moran pitched the ninth inning and faced four total batters, allowing an infield single.
Kudernatsch was one of three Hartford batters to record a multi-hit game with fellow seniors Andy Drexel and Chris Suchy each finishing with two hits. Suchy also knocked in a pair of runners, while Brian Estevez matched him in that category to lead the team.
The Hawks struck first with two runs in the fourth inning. After Kudernatsch opened up the offense with a one out single to right field, Brady Sheetz was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Suchy, a senior outfielder, provided the muscle for the first run as he sent the Hawks first extra base hit over the head of Stags left fielder Jack Giannini. That hit allowed Kudernatsch to score from second and put runners on second and third.
With one run across the plate, Estevez became the third base runner aboard as he was hit by a pitch. An infield groundout off the bat of rookie Rob Meerman allowed Sheetz to score from therd for the second Hawks run.
Hartford added four runs to its lead in the bottom of the fifth, all starting with a leadoff single from catcher James Alfonso. A pair of intentional walks in the inning came back to haunt Fairfield as Kudernatsch and Suchy followed those free passes by driving in runs. Kudernatsch knocked in the first run on a single down the right field line, his second hit in as many innings. Suchy sacrificed himself for the team by knocking in Hunter who was the first intentional walk. The final two runs of the inning came by way of a double that fell just inside the left field line off the bat off Estevez.
Fairfield picked up their first score in the top of the sixth inning after Anthony Hajjar led off the inning with the Stags second hit of the game, a ground rule double that bounced over the fence in left field. He would come around to score two hitter later on the visitors second hit in the inning, a single to center with Sebastian Salvo earning the RBI. Following that hit, Andujar came on to replace Hunter on the mound and quickly closed out the inning by retiring the two batters he faced.
Hartford added three more runs to its lead in the bottom of the seventh, taking a 9-1 advantage into the final two innings. Kudernatsch led off the innings with his third single of the game, pushing one through the left side. Kudernatsch's hit was the first of three straight singles for the Hawks as the next one, from Sheetz, allowed Kudernatsch to score from second.
Sheets then came around to score from first on a single and error in right field. Suchy provided the hit and ended the play at third base, taking advantage of the fielding error. Suchy then scored easily two batters later as Meerman sacrificed himself for the team.
Hartford returns to Fiondella Field for three games this weekend when they welcome the NJIT Highlanders to West Hartford for a three-game set. The series will begin with a Saturday doubleheader and conclude with a single game on Sunday. Action on both days will tip-off at 12:00 p.m.
