Box Score PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Rookie David Drouin pitched six shutout innings and sophomore designated hitter Billy Walker went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI as the University of Hartford baseball tea cruises to 8-1 victory over the La Salle Explorers on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks improve to 5-7 overall and will now return to West Hartford to open a 19-game home schedule with five-straight games starting Tuesday against Yale.
Drouin gave up just two hits as the Hawks pitching staff allowed just five hits total to the Explorers. The victory represents his first decision in four appearances and two starts since joining the Hawks. The rookie right hander struck out five batters and walked just one. Sophomore Kyle Gauthier pitched a pair of middle inning in relief allowing two hits without giving up a run, while senior Ryan Carter pitched the ninth inning allowing one run on one hit and two walks with one strikeout.
At the plate, Hartford finished with 13 total hits led by Walker and Brady Sheetz who each finished with three. James Alfonso and Ryan Lukach also finished with a multi-hit game adding a pair of hits while three other players added one hit including Trey Stover who has now hit safely in 11 of the Hawks 12 games in 2014.
Drouin didn't allow a base runner from the Explorers through 3.2 innings and after giving up a hit and walk with two outs in the bottom of the fourth stranded both runners with a fly out to left field. Offensively, the Hawks opened the scoring with a single run in the fourth inning thanks in part to an Explorer error which allowed centerfielder Chris DelDebbio to reach safely. A single from Sheetz put runners on the corners and a walk issued to Walker loaded the bases with DelDebbio able to score on a double play ball off the bat of Alfonso.
The Hawks then scored at least one run over the final four innings with three of those coming in the top of the sixth. Stover led off the inning with a single up the middle and after a sacrifice from DelDebbio allowed him to advance into scoring position Sheetz drove him in with a three-bagger to right field. Walker and Lukach drove in the next two runs with singles that allowed Sheetz and Walker to score.
A leadoff walk issued to Stover in the top of the seventh came back to haunt the Explorers as he was able to score from second base on a single from Walker with two outs. The lone run in the eighth inning came courtesy of a wild pitch while the final two runs in the top of the ninth. With one out in the ninth, Sheetz tripled for the second time in the game and scored on the next at bat as pinch hitter David MacKinnon doubled to left field. A third straight hit from Alfonso put runners on the corners with MacKinnon able to score on a fielder's choice off the bat of Lukach.
The first two games in the five-game home opening series come on back-to-back days as Yale and UMass visit Fiondella Field on Tuesday and Wednesday. The home opener against the Bulldogs is scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch.Â
