STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The University of Hartford baseball team split a Friday doubleheader with the Stony Brook Seawolves, the first two games of the final regular season series. Sophomore Billy Walker led the Hawks, combining for four hits over the two games, while driving in a pair of runs. Hartford and Stony Brook will close out the series on Saturday with the first pitch in the regular season finale set for 12 p.m.

Joining Walker in leading the Hawks for the game was right fielder Ryan Lukach and catcher James Alfonso who each finished with three total hits. Alfonso closed out the opening game with a pair of hits, while finishing 1-of-3 in the second game. Lukach finished with one hit in the first game and was 2-of-3 in game two. Both finished with an RBI in the opening game.

In the early game, the Hawks struck right out of the gates with a three hit rally with two outs in the top of the first. Rookie third baseman David MacKinnon started things off with a single to centerfield. Right fielder Ryan Lukach followed that with a double to right center that dribbled to the wall putting runners on second and third for senior catcher James Alfonso who knocked both runs in with a single to right, the 15th game in the last 16 with at least one hit for the backstop.

Starter Sean Newcomb allowed just one runner in the first four innings, that coming on a single in the second from Cole Peragine. He would end the inning stranded at first. In that four inning span, the lefty struck out four batters, two each in the first and third innings.

The Hawks added two more runs in the fourth and again in the eighth. In the fourth designated hitter Bill Walker started the offense with a one out double down the right field line with shortstop Trey Stover becoming the second runner of the inning when he was hit by a pitch. Both advanced thanks to a sacrifice bunt from second baseman Aaron Wilson before being knocked in thanks to a single up the middle from the leadoff batter, Chris DelDebbio.

Stony Brook broke the shutout in the seventh inning, using a clutch, two out, infield single from right fielder Toby Handler which drove in designated hitter Casey Baker who originally reached on a one-out single to right center.

In the top of the eighth Walker didn't waste time after a Seawolves pitching change sending a one out single back up the middle knocking in a pair of runs an giving the Hawks a five-run advantage. Hartford saw its first two batters of the inning reach safely, Lukach who was hit by a pitch and Alfonso who singled to centerfield. Both advanced into scoring position when first baseman Brady Sheetz sacrificed himself. Sheetz would be the final pitcher for the Seawolves starter Frankie Vanderka, who suffered his fifth loss of the season.

Hartford also changed pitchers in the eighth inning with sophomore righty Sam McKay coming out of the pen and retiring all six batters he faced in order. Two of his first three outs came on a pair of great defensive highlights from MacKinnon at third base.  

Newcomb would finish his final regular season game with his sixth America East victory, in as many decisions. The left handed first round prospect gave up the lone Stony Brook run on six hits and a walk, while punching out eight batters. On the Seawolves side, Vanderka allowed all six Hawks runs on seven hits with a walk and one strikeout in the loss.

In the second game, the first six batters to the plate were retired in order before Walker punched the first hit of the game to right center. He would end up stranded 90 feet from home thanks to a SAC bunt from Stover and a fly ball to centerfield.

Hawks starter Brian Hunter worked out of trouble in the third inning but the Seawolves broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a bases clearing hit to shallow right field off the bat of catcher Anthony Italiano. Stony Brook added single runs in the fifth and sixth to take a 5-0 lead into the final inning.

Hartford would break the shutout in the top of the seventh after leading off the inning with two hits, a double to left center from Lukach and a single to right from Alfonso. Sheetz followed the first out of the inning by driving in Lukach for what would be the only Hawk run of the game.

Hunter pitched six innings and gave up all four of the Seawolves runs on six hits. He also walked four batters and struck out a pair. Austin Barnes was tagged with allowing the final Stony Brook run, pitching one inning and giving up one hit. Seawolves starter Brandon McKnitt earned his seventh victory of the season, going the distance for his squad.