TROY, Ala. – The Hartford baseball team dropped a pair of games on Saturday 5-3 against Southeast Louisiana and 8-1 to the host Troy Trojans. The Hawks were led by freshman Chris DelDebbio who finished with four total hits, two in each game.

In the opener, Hartford scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning thanks to a double to left center field from the designated hitter James Alfonso. Alfonso's double was his third extra base hit of the season, this one driving in Brady Sheetz who reached on a fielder's choice. The Hawks then couldn't capitalize on doubles from Ryan Lukach, a lead-off two-bagger, and Sheetz in the second and third.

In the bottom of the third, the Lions Ladd Rhodes worked a lead-off walk off starter Kyle Gauthier and quickly found himself in scoring position thanks to a sacrifice and a Hartford error. That left Rhodes at third and Ben Hernandez at second. Both were off to the races as third baseman Jesse Burratt sacrificed himself laying down a bunt that allowed both to score for a pair of RBI's.

Hartford then tied the game at two utilizing a leadoff single from Alfono in the top of the sixth. Alfonso would advance into scoring position on a sacrifice from Billy Walker and then scored from 180 feet away on a single up the middle from DelDebbio.

Right fielder Harry Slade began the bottom of the sixth with an infield single and three batters later became the go-ahead run, driven home by the catcher Sam Roberson. The Lions then added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh taking a 5-2 advantage they wouldn't look back from.

The Hawks took one of those runs back in the top of the ninth putting together three-straight singles from DelDebbio, Nick Dummar and Brian Hunter, the latter of which was through the left side and drove in DelDebbio. But Lions closer Dylan Hills settled in and forced the one and two-hole hitters for the Hawks into groundout securing his fourth save of the season.

Gauthier suffered his second loss of the season despite allowing just four hits and three runs, none of which were earned. The rookie pitched six innings and struck out four. Brian Murphy, also a rookie hurler, closed out the contest pitching the final two innings giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks.

In the night-cap, the Hawks found themselves in a deep hole as the Trojans put three runs on the board in the third and four more in the sixth opening up a 7-0 lead. Hartford's starter, Sean Newcomb, suffered the loss, his second of the season. He pitched 3.1 innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits, while giving up five walks. He also struck out three.

The Hawks finished the second game with eight hits, none of which went for extra bases. Leading the pack was DelDebbio and Hunter who each finished 2-of-3 at the plate. Sheetz, Lukach, Dummar and Joe Roberti all finished with one hit.

After allowing an eight run in the bottom of the eighth, the Hawks put their lone run on the board in the top of the ninth as the first three Hawks to the plate all reached safely. Lukach began the inning with a walk and then advanced on a wild pitch before DelDebbio worked an eight pitch walk to put the first two on. Hunter followed that with his second hit of the night, a single that loaded the bases for Dummar who hit into a double play that allowed Lukach to score.

The Hawks close out their weekend in the Yellowhammer State with a 10:00 a.m. first pitch against the Southeast Louisiana Lions.