DURHAM, N.C. – Senior shortstop Trey Stover scattered a pair of hits and drove in one run to lead the University of Hartford baseball team in a 5-1 loss to the host Duke Blue Devils in the second game on the Hawks opening day of the 2015 season.
Stover was one of two Hawks who led the team at the plate with sophomore second baseman Dalton Ruch joining his with two hits. Four other players finished with one hit apiece as the Hawks matched the Blue Devils with nine total hits.
Junior right hander Brian Murphy was tagged with the loss in his first outing of the season. Murphy pitched four innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out a game-high six batters, which ties his career high set last season against UMass. Senior Austin Barnes and freshman Collin Ferguson each saw two innings of work. Barnes faced eight batters in his two innings and was tagged with allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits. In his collegiate debut, Ferguson faced just one batter over his minimum, not allowing a run, while giving up one hit. Both Barnes and Ferguson struck out two batters each.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
· Two Hawks finished with two each to lead the Hawks against Duke. Senior shortstop Trey Stover provided the only RBI of the afternoon contest as he drove in freshman TJ Ward for the Hawks only run. Stover and sophomore second baseman Dalton Ruch each finished with two hits to lead the team.
· Hartford matched the Blue Devils in total hits with nine as four players other than Stover and Ruch finished with one hit apiece. With one hit in the second game, Chris DelDebbio secured a now team-high six-game hit streak which dates back to the 2014 season. Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon was also one of the players to finish with one hit, having not hit safely in five straight games dating back to 2014.
· Freshman Collin Ferguson made his first appearance on the mound and finished two innings of relief work without allowing a run, while giving up just one hit. Ferguson faced just one batter over his minimum, while striking out two batters.
· Junior right hander Brian Murphy suffered the loss on the hill for Hartford as he pitched four innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits. He also struck out six batters which tied his career high.
HOW THEY SCORED
· The Hawks lone run against the Blue Devils came in the fourth inning as they cut Dukes lead at the time in half and broke up the shutout. Freshman third baseman TJ Ward would become the eventual run as he reached safely on a one-our fielder's choice. That play was followed by back-to-back singles from junior catcher Billy Walker and senior shortstop Trey Stover. The first of those hits allowed Ward to advance to second while he was able to score from 180 feet away thanks to Stover's single to center field.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
· For the second game in a row, Hartford had at least two players finished with at least two hits with senior Trey Stover and sophomore Dalton Ruch each led the team against Duke with two hits.
· Junior pitcher Brian Murphy tied his career-high, striking out six batters in his four innings on the mound. His previous career-best came against the UMass Minutemen last March.
· Senior centerfielder Chris DelDebbio extended his now team-high hit streak to six straight games as he finished with one hit against the Blue Devils, a leadoff single through the right side. This is the second game in a row that DelDebbio has opened up the game with a hit in the leadoff spot in the batting order.
TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)
· Senior shortstop Trey Stover led the Hawks at the plate as he finished 2-for-4 while driving in the Hawks only run.
· Junior pitcher Brian Murphy tied his career-high with six strikeouts in four innings of work.
· Senior centerfielder Chris DelDebbio opened the second-straight game with a leadoff hit, extending his hit streak to six straight games.
UP NEXT
The Hawks close out the Duke Tournament on Sunday afternoon when they face the Delaware State Hornets at 2 p.m. at Coombs Field.
