WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford baseball team scored its most runs in conference play since March 17, 2013, also against Albany, as the Hawks defeated the Great Danes 12-9 completing its second weekend league sweep in 2014. Hartford (21-14) improves to 9-2 overall holding onto sole possession of first place in the America East.

In Sunday's season finale, the Hawks were led by leadoff batter Chris DelDebbio who finished with a career-high four RBI in the leadoff position. The centerfielder went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while also earning a free pass. He would also score three of the Hawks 12 runs. Third baseman David MacKinnon tied his career-high, driving in three of the Hawks runs for the third time, all in the month of April. Right fielder Ryan Lukach and first baseman Brady Sheetz each finished with two RBI.

Overall, Hartford finished with 14 hits led by Sheetz and DelDebbio who joined him with three hits. Two of Sheetz hits went for extra bases as he finished a home run shy of the cycle. Lukach also finished with a pair of extra base hits, also a double and triple, as he closed out the game 2-for-5 with a run scored. MacKinnon also added two hits as four other players each finished with one. The Great Danes also finished with 14 hits, led by Brian Bullard and Charlie Peltz who each scatted three.

The Hawks used five pitchers on the hill with sophomore Kyle Gauthier starting his first conference game, pitching four innings in a no-decision outing. Gauthier would be tagged for four hits, three earned, on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Reliever Jacob Mellin earned the victory, his second of the season, pitching a pair of relief innings. He allowed one unearned run on three hits and tying Gauthier for the team lead with three strikeouts.

Senior Alex Gouin would close out the game for Hartford, pitching four outs, earning his conference-leading eighth save in 2014. John McGinty and Brian Stepniak also saw time in relief. Albany starter Stephen Woods suffered the loss, his fourth of the season, giving up seven earned runs on six hits in two innings.

Hartford would never trail in the game, scoring five runs in the first two innings before allowing a Great Danes run. MacKinnon drove in the opening tally when he sacrificed himself in the first inning allowing DelDebbio to score after leading off the game with a seven-pitch walk. DelDebbio and MacKinnon would then combine for the four RBI in the second inning with each driving in two on singles. The Hawks would finish with five hits in the second inning.

Despite the single run in the third, the Hawks opened up its largest lead in the fourth inning with an RBI single from Sheetz driving in Lukach for an 8-1 advantage. Albany wasn't going to go down without a fight, cutting the Hawks advantage to as little as two with a five-run fifth inning. The Great Danes scattered five hits in the inning and took advantage of a fielding error at first.

The home team answered with three runs in its half of the fifth with the big hit of the inning a two RBI triple off the bat of Lukach, driving in DelDebbio and MacKinnon. The final Hartford run came in the seventh as DelDebbio sacrificed himself on his fifth at bat with a fly ball to right field allowing Wilson to score after advancing around the diamond with a stolen base and a wild pitch.

Hartford will take the diamond just once before returning to America East play at Binghamton next weekend. The lone mid-week battle will be a road contest against the Rhode Island Rams on Wednesday at Bill Beck Field. The Hawks and Rams are scheduled for a 3:30 first pitch.