BOX SCORE
Hanover, N.H. – The Hartford baseball team opened a six-game week with a 13-6 loss to the Dartmouth Big Green on Tuesday afternoon at Biondi Park in Hanover, N.H. Hartford (10-35) was led by senior third baseman Simon Kudernatsch who finished 3-of-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored.
Kudernatsch was one of two players to finish with three hits in the game, joined by second baseman Brian Estevez who finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Designated hitter Brian Hunter joined the pair in finishing with a multi-hit outing as he scattered two hits in five at bats while also driving in one run. The Hawks infield provided much of Hartford's fuel as first baseman Alex Bulger finished 1-of-2 at the plate while working a pair of walks and scoring two of the three times he reached base. As a team, Hartford finished with 15 hits, outhitting their host 15-12, three of which went for two bases.
On the hill, Hawks starter Freddy Andujar suffered the decision as he allowed eight runs, all earned, on four hits while walking four batters. The start for Andujar was his first of the season. Charlie Moran, Alex Fiste and Brendan Behm all saw time on the bump for Hartford. Fiste finished with the outing among the three as he finished three innings of work without allowing a run and only giving up one hit. Fiste and Behm were the only two to record strikeouts in the contest, each finishing with one.
The Hawks were the first to put a run on the scoreboard striking in the first inning using a one-out single from Estevez to get things started. He scored on the very next at bat, showing his speed as the rounded the field from first on a double to right centerfield from Kudernatsch. Dartmouth answered right back with five runs in the bottom half of the first, taking over control of the contest.
Hartford chipped into the 5-1 Big Green advantage with another single run in the third inning, this time with Kudernatsch triggering the offense with a two-out single up the middle. Andy Drexel and Hunter followed with singles of their own, the second of which a single down through the left side that allowed Kudernatsch to score from second base. The Big Green didn't waste time answering when they posted a six run bottom half of the inning, with five different players providing the muscle and driving in runs.
The Hawks added single runs in the fifth and sixth and two more in the eighth, while the Big Green tallied their final two runs in the fourth inning. Estevez and Kudernatsch would provide the final three RBIs of the afternoon with Estevez's coming on his third single of the night in the eighth inning.
The Hawks return to the diamond on Wednesday when they travel 10 miles and 19 minutes from the West Hartford campus to face the Central Connecticut Blue Devils for a single game. Hartford and CCSU are scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.
