WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior catcher James Alfonso has a perfect afternoon going 4-of-4 with two RBI and two runs scored leading the University of Hartford baseball team to an 8-6 victory over in state rival Yale University on Thursday at Fiondella Field. Hartford, who heads into America East play this weekend, improves to 7-7 overall in 2014.

Alfonso's four hits were part of 10 total for the Hawks as left fielder Adam Touhey joined him with a multi-hit afternoon, adding two. Touhey and shortstop Trey Stover also drove in a pair of Hartford's eight runs.

On the mound, sophomore right hander Sam McKay earned his team-leading third win of the season pitching a pair of perfect middle relief innings. The Weymouth, Mass. native faced six total batters retiring them all in order on a pair of fly balls and four groundouts. Freshman Brian Stepniak saw the first action of his collegiate career, starting and pitching the first four innings. He was tagged with all five of Yale's runs, two of which were earned, on four hits with one strikeout.

Senior Ryan Carter also pitched a pair of middle relief innings without allowing a run on one hit, setting junior lefty Austin Barnes up for a save in the ninth. Barnes would allow on unearned run on two hits but earn the Hawks second save in as many days as Hartford remains unbeaten on its home turf.

Yale opened up the scoring in the top of the first inning after second baseman Nate Adams opened up the game with a double down the leftfield line and eventually scored the game's first run. After advancing on a fly ball to right field, Adams was able to score on a pitch that got away from the Hawks catcher.

The Bulldogs added two more runs in the second and third before being held without a base runner over the next three innings as the Hawks pitching staff retired 10-straight Yale batters. The final Yale run came in the top of the ninth inning as they had a base loaded opportunity with no outs but Barnes forced a double play ball and a groundout, both to third base, to end the game.

The Hawks first three runs came in the second inning as the first two batters of the inning were able to reach safely thanks to an error at shortstop and a hit batter. Alfonso followed that up with his first hit of the game, a single to left field that loaded the bases, with no outs, for Adam Touhey who drove in designated hitter Billy Walker and right fielder Ryan Lukach. A groundout off the bat of Dalton Ruch drove in the final run of the inning as Alfonso was able to score from third after advancing thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Aaron Wilson.

Another hit batsman in the third inning came back to hurt the Bulldogs as Hartford tied the game at five with a pair of runs thanks to a double to right from Alfonso. That two-bagger, the first of two for the senior catcher, drove in Sheetz who was hit by the pitch and Lukach who originally singled. Both Lukach's and Alfonso's hits came with two outs in the inning.

After a pair of scoreless innings on both sides, Hartford broke the stalemate with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, again scoring with two outs. Alfonso and Touhey opened up the inning with back-to-back hits, a double and a single, respectively, that put runners on the corners. Stover then came to the plate looking for his first hit of the game and it came as a single through the left side that allowed both runners to score, including Touhey who wheeled all the way home from first.

Hartford's final run came in the seventh inning when Sheetz showed his speed on the bases as he became the second Hawk of the game to score from first base. His running ability came to light thanks to a double down the left field line from Walker, the third extra base hit for Hartford.

The 7-7 overall record for Hartford marks the best tally 14 games into the season since the Hawks opened the 1988 season with an 11-3 record in the first 14 games. In addition, the .500 record for Hartford is the first time the Hawks have had a .500 or better record after 14 games since April 27, 1992.

The Hawks close out a five-game home stand with a three-game league opening series against the Binghamton Bearcats. Hartford and Binghamton are scheduled to open with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 22 with the series finale set for Sunday. Both days are scheduled for 12 p.m. starts. The Bearcats also enter the weekend looking for their first conference victories after dropping a pair of 4-2 decisions at UMass Lowell in their league opening series last weekend.