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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Ryan Lukach drove in two runs and the second one is what mattered as his single to left center allowed the Hawks to walk off Fiondella Field with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Northeastern Huskies on Tuesday afternoon. With the victory, the Hawks improve t0 15-31 heading into a three-game weekend series at UMBC.

Lukach finished with two of the Hawks six total hits while all four addition hits came from different players. Five of the Hawks six hits came from the top four positions in the lineup with Trey Stover, Brian Estevez and Brady Sheetz all hitting singles in the first inning while the final hit was a double from catcher James Alfonso in the seventh.

On the hill, Hartford was led by its bullpen who pitched five innings without allowing a run and allowing just two hits. Anthony Mannuccia made his first start of the season in 15 appearances and gave up an unearned run on four hits and a walk. He also struck out two. Middle reliever Jacob Mellin put up the best performance out of the bullpen retiring the nine batters he faced in order. Alex Gouin closed out the game and earned his second victory of the season. He wouldn't allow a run while giving up one hit in two innings of work.

Both teams scored in their opening innings before putting up 15 straight goose eggs on the scoreboard. The Huskies led off the game with a single to right field from Aaron Barbosa, who eventual became the first run. Barbosa's hit ricocheted off of Hawks starter Anthony Mannuccia whose throw was off the mark and allowed Barbosa to advance an additional 90 feet. Barbosa would then advance to third on an infield ground out from Brad Burcroff before scoring on another groundout, this time to second base from Jason Vosler who recorded the RBI.

The Hawks began their half of the first inning with three straight singles from Trey Stover, Brian Estevez and Brady Sheetz. Stover would push the first Hartford hit through the left side of the infield before Estevez and Sheetz both legged out bunt singles on sacrifice attempts. With the bases loaded right fielder Ryan Lukach sailed a deep foul ball to right centerfield sacrificing himself for the game tying run. Huskies starter would then force Hawks centerfielder Chris DelDebbio to get himself out of trouble.

Hartford would have the best opportunity at adding runs to the board in the bottom of the seventh when they had runners on second and third with one out. On a sacrifice attempt during designated hitter Nick Dummar's at bat the Hawks would be caught in the attempt as Huskies catcher Josh Treff tagged the runners out in order to get out of trouble.

The Hawks entered the bottom of the ninth after having been retired in order the inning prior. After Stover led off the inning with a fly out the Hawks saw the first base runner come in the fashion of Estevez who was hit by a pitch. He would eventually be retired on the next at bat, a fielder's choice that took out the lead runner and left Sheetz at first.

Sheetz successfully swiped second for his sixth stolen base in eight attempts in 2013. With Sheetz in scoring position, Lukach smacked his second hit of the day to the fence in left center field out of the reach of either outfielder as he drove in the game-winner.

The three-game series with the UMBC Retrievers will begin with a Saturday doubleheader and conclude with a single game on Sunday. Both days are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. starts. The series at UMBC is crucial for Hartford who currently stands tied for fourth place in the league standings with defending champion Stony Brook. The top four teams following the regular season advance to the America East Championship which will be played at the home of the Lowell Spinners LeLacheur Park.