BOX SCORE GAME 1
BOX SCORE GAME 2
Stony Brook, N.Y. – The Hartford baseball team dropped the first two games, 5-7, 0-6, of a four-game series against the Stony Brook Seawolves (27-10, 7-2 AE) on Friday afternoon on Long Island. The Hawks (9-28, 1-7 AE) were led on the afternoon by center fielder Rob Meerman who finished a combined 4-of-6 with an run scored, including a perfect 3-for-3 in game one.
Meerman was one of three players to finish with two or more hits over the two games combined. Senior Andy Drexel finished with three hits in seven at bats, while Brian Hunter and Trey Stover each finished with two hits. Meerman and Hunter compiled the only extra base hits on the day with Meerman smacking a pair of doubles and Hunter adding one two bagger. Senior Simon Kudernatsch led all Hawks with two RBIs, while Stover, Pat Knauth and James Alfonso each added one.
The Hawks two starters were tagged with the losses, Hunter Englehart in game one and Hunter in game two. Englehart (0-7) went the distance in the seven inning first game, with six of the runs being marked as earned on eight hits and two walks. He also struck out one batter. Hunter (1-3) pitched 5.2 innings and allowed five of the six runs in game two, four of those runs were earned. The right hander allowed six hits and gave up three walks while striking out two batters. Freddy Andujar and Alex Fiste each saw time in game two, Andujar pitching 1.1 innings and Fiste one complete inning.
The Hawks needed to work from behind in the first game after allowing three runs in the first and one run in the second as the Seawolves extended the early 4-0 lead. In the first inning alone, the home squad finished with three hits, one of which was a triple to center field for third baseman William Carmona. His three bagger was one of three for the Seawolves on Friday, the longest hits of the afternoon for either team.
Hartford puts its first runs of the day on the board in the third inning, starting off the stanza with back-to-back hits. Brian Estevez began the inning with a single up the middle and he was followed by Meerman's first hit of the game, a double down the left field line putting two runners in scoring position. Knauth picked up the first RBI on a groundout to short stop, while Stover followed him with a single to center field knocking in Meerman.
The Hawks would add their final runs of the game in the third inning, two of which came courtesy of Kudernatsch who smacked a double to center field allowing Knauth and Drexel to score. The first run materialized from a leadoff single to Meerman as he was able to score on a groundout to second from Alfonso.
The visiting squad looked to have life in the top of the seventh when Alonso led things off with a single through the left side, but he would remain stranded at first as Frankie Vanderak retired the next three batters in order securing his third save of the season.
In the second game, Hartford scattered five hits but left seven runners stranded. Among the seven left on base for Hartford were three in the second inning, all three of which reached base safely with no outs. Seawolves starter Brandon McKnitt retired the next three in order to keep the shutout intact.
Stony Brook scored what would be the game-winning run in the first inning after Travis Jankowski opened up the Seawolves offense with an infield single. He would eventually score on the second hit of the inning, a single through the right side from Carmona. Jankowski led Stony Brook in the second game finishing a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs.
The Hawks and Seawolves will continue the series with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader as they attempt to beat out incoming rain with a 12:00 p.m. start for game one.
