WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford baseball team improved to 8-2 in the America East, taking over first place in the league, with a pair of victories, 3-2 & 3-0, over the University at Albany Great Danes on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks improve their overall record to 20-14 recording the first 20 win season since 1994.

In the opening game the Hawks used a safety squeeze for a walk-off victory with junior right fielder Ryan Lukach putting down a bunt single to the right side. The throw home was off the mark allowing centerfielder Chris DelDebbio to score. DelDebbio led off the ninth inning with a single down the left field line, starting the offensive threat for the Hawks.

The Hawks first two runs came in the second inning providing starter Sean Newcomb with a 2-0 advantage. The first two batters of the third second reached safely on free passes, a hit by pitch for catcher James Alfonso and a walk issued to first baseman Brady Sheetz. Both would circle the bases with each scoring on a double in the gap in left field from shortstop Trey Stover.

Newcomb would finish his day without a decision, pitching seven innings and allowing one unearned run on three hits. He would also strike out seven batters and walk four with his sixth strikeout of the day registering his 200th career punch out, the first player in school history to record 200 K's. Reliever Sam McKay earned the victory in the opening game, his sixth of the season which ties him for the fourth most in a single season in program history. McKay pitched two innings and allowed one earned run on two hits with one strikeout.

In the nightcap, the Hawks were led by senior pitcher Brian Hunter who finished his fifth complete game earning his second victory of the season in seven decisions. The senior right hander threw his first shutout of the year, giving up four hits and stranding five runners on base. He also recorded five strikeouts and walked four batters.

All three of the Hawks runs came in the first inning with a fielding error at shortstop allowing DelDebbio to reach safely on the first at bat of the contest. An infield single from left fielder Adam Touhey put runners on first and second with each successfully swiping a base to put a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs.

DelDebbio would provide the first run of the game when he was driven home on an infield groundout off the bat of third baseman David MacKinnon. The next two runs came by way of a double to left center from Sheetz with the ball rolling to the fence allowing Touhey to score easily form third and Lukach from 270 feet away at first.

The Hawks and Great Danes are scheduled to close out the three-game America East series on Sunday afternoon with the first pitch set for 12 p.m. at Fiondella Field.