ORONO, Maine – The Hartford baseball team completed a weekend series victory over the league leading Maine Black Bears on Sunday afternoon with a 1-0 victory thanks to a solo home run from junior catcher James Alfonso. The Hawks were also led by a complete game shutout from sophomore hurler Sean Newcomb who earned his fourth victor of the season.

Hartford (14-27 overall) improves to 11-10 in America East play, which is the most victories in conference action in 20 seasons – 18-10 in 1992. The win also pushes the Hawks into third place in the league standings with three weekends remaining and the top four teams advancing to the 2013 America East Championship which will be played at LeLacheur Park in Lowel, Mass., home of the Boston Red Sox Single A affiliate Lowell Spinners

Alfonso's home run, his second of the season, was lifted over the fence in left field and was one of just three Hartford hits and six total in the game. His solo blast came with one out in the eighth inning and was the first time a Hartford runner advanced past second base. The Hawks also threatened in the ninth following a leadoff single from third baseman Aaron Wilson who eventually was stranded at third.

The only other Hartford hit came in the third inning from designated hitter Billy Walker and was also a leadoff hit. Walker advanced to second on the next at bat with a groundout but was picked off by Maine starter Mike Connolly who also pitched a complete game.

Newcomb gave up three hits to the Black Bears and walked two. He also struck out a game-high seven batters after entering the weekend third in the nation averaging 13.3 strikeouts-per-nine-innings. Connolly walked two and struck out five for Maine as he fell to 4-3 on the season.

Newcomb retired the first nine batters in order before giving up the first of two free passes on a walk to left fielder Sam Balzano who became the first base runner for the Black Bears. Maine's biggest threat came in the seventh inning after Mike Fransoso led off the inning with a double to center field, the only extra base hit in the game. After an error on a pickoff attempt allowed Fransoso to take third the Hawks would benefit from a strikeout from Newcomb before the Hawks eliminated the lead runner on a hard hit groundball to first base.

Maine attempted to mount a comeback in the ninth inning with back-to-back one out singles from centerfielder Colin Gay and Fransoso. Despite the back-to-back hits, the Hawks didn't allow a runner past first base by eliminating Gay as he attempted to steal second and stranded Fransoso as Newcmob struck out Alex Calbick looking to end the game.

The road warrior Hawks continue a stretch of seven-straight on the road with a single mid-week game at Army on Thursday, May 2. The Hawks and Black Knights are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch at West Point.