ORONO, Maine – The University of Hartford baseball team used an 11th inning rally in game one and a complete game on the mound from Brian Hunter in the second game to sweep the Black Bears 6-4 and 2-1 on Sunday at Mahaney Diamond. Hartford improves to 15-10 and 5-2 in the America East and will close out the series with the Black Bears on Monday afternoon.

At the plate, Hartford finished with 11 total hits led by Aaron Wilson and Dalton Ruch who each finished with two hits. The remaining seven all came from different players. Ruch led the squad with a pair of RBI's while Wilson added one along with five other Hawks. Both of Wilson's hits came in back-to-back innings in the opening game, while Ruch's two hits were spread over the two contests.

In the opening game, the Black Bears struck first with a single run able to score as third baseman Alex Calbick beat out a double play attempt that would have ended the first inning. That run was the first earned run of the season charged to Hawks starter Sean Newcomb, who finished the game allowing four runs, all earned, on six hits and three walks. He also struck out eight batters in 6.1 innings of work.

Hartford erased the 1-0 deficit and broke open a 4-1 lead with all four runs coming in the top of the fourth. The Hawks sent nine batters to the plate that inning, taking advantage of four walks while Wilson and Ruch scattered back-to-back hits that drove in three total runs. The fourth run was credited to designated hitter Joe Roberti who worked a bases loaded walk that forced in what was the game-tying run.

The Black Bears answered by tying the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs, while each team posted three-straight scoreless innings to force the extra frames. Hartford capitalized on a leadoff walk in top of the 11th to score what was the eventual game-winning run. Roberti earned the free pass, his second of the game, and scored thanks to an infield hit from Trey Stover with the throw home off the mark allowing Roberti to score without a play at the plate. Left fielder Adam Touhey would then punch home what would prove to be an insurance run as Brian Estevez scored on a fielder's choice that erased Stover at second base for the second out of the inning.

Sophomore reliever Kyle Gauthier earned the victory on the hill, pitching 3.2 innings of relief work, while senior closer Alex Gouin earned his team-leading sixth save of the season. Gauthier finished his time on the mound without allowing a run, giving up one hit. Gouin also gave up one hit and walked one batter, stranding both in the bottom of the 11th.

In the second game, the Hawks relied on Hunter, who pitched his third-straight complete game. In seven innings of work, Hunter allowed one unearned run on one hit and five walks. He also erased three batters on strikeouts. The victory is the first of the season for the senior right hander.

All three of the runs in the nightcap came in the opening inning as Hartford held on to its one-run lead through the final six innings, with Hunter stranding five runners in that span. In the top of the first, the Hawks relied on a hit from Ryan Lukach and a sacrifice from James Alfonso to drive in their two runs, the latter of which drove home first baseman Brady Sheetz as the game-winning tally.  

Hartford and Maine will close out the league series on Monday afternoon at Mahaney Diamond. First pitch in the series finale is scheduled for 3 p.m.