MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon led the University of Hartford baseball team with three hits and an RBI as the Hawks dropped a 5-1 decision to the Virginia Cavaliers on Friday at Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

MacKinnon's three hits are part of nine total as the Hawks outhit Virginia, who is ranked in the top four in all six of the national polls, 9-6. Joining MacKinnon in leading the Hawks at the plate was senior shortstop Trey Stover and freshman leftfielder Nick Campana who each finished with two hits.

On the hill, Hawks junior right hander Kyle Gauthier suffered his first loss of the season as he pitched six innings allowing five runs, four of which were earned. The Cavaliers finished with five hits off of Gauthier who also struck out three and walked three. Freshman Jake Regula made his first appearance of the season out of the bullpen, pitching two innings without allowing a run on one hit. He also struck out two.  

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon completed the second multi-hit game of the season as he scattered a season-high three hits against the Cavaliers. All three of MacKinnon's hits were singles, with his last hit to left centerfield with two outs in the ninth driving in the Hawks only run.

·       Two other Hawks finished with a multi-hit outing as senior shortstop Trey Stover and freshman left fielder Nick Campana each finishing with two hits. This is the second game of the season with two hits for the rookie, while Stover has finished with two hits in each of the last three games.

·       As a team, the Hawks outhit Virginia 9-6 and have now finished with nine or more hits in all four games this season. This is also the third game that Hartford has outhit its opponent, while the Hawks have not been outhit by an opponent yet this season, finishing tied with nine hits apiece against Duke.

·       Relief pitcher Jake Regula, a freshman right, saw a pair of innings out of the bullpen, holding the Virginia bats to just one hit, but faced the minimum of six batters as the runner was erased from the base paths on a double play on the next at bat.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       Hartford's only run against the top ranked Cavaliers came on a two-out rally in the top of the ninth inning. Freshman centerfielder Sebastian DiMauro opened the inning with his only hit of the afternoon, a single to left field. He would advance into scoring position on defensive indifference while sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon was at the plate. MacKinnon then connected on his third hit, a single to left center that allowed DiMauro to score from second.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Two Hawks extended hitting streaks against Virginia. Freshman leftfielder Nick Campana has now hit safely in all four games since stepping on the diamond as a Hawk, while finishing two of those games with two hits. Senior Trey Stover has now hit safely in each of the last three games, scattering two hits in each of those games.

·       Sophomore David MacKinnon has hit safely in three games in 2015, finishing two of the three games with a multi-hit outing, including a season-high three against Virginia. He has also now driven in at least one run in three of the four games this season.

·       Freshman righty Jake Regula is now the fifth different Hartford pitcher who has pitched at least two innings of shutout ball this season. Regula pitched to his minimum number of batters on Friday afternoon, while striking out two batters.

·       As a team, the Hawks outhit their third opponent of the season in Virginia, 9-6. Hartford has not yet been outhit by an opponent through its first four games.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       SO first baseman David MacKinnon scattered a season-high three hits, while driving in one run against the Cavaliers.

·       FR leftfielder Nick Campana has now hit safely in all four games since putting on a Hartford uniform. Campana is no 6-of-15 for the year.

·       SR shortstop Trey Stover has finished with two hits in each of the last three games. He is now 6-of-14 for the season.

UP NEXT
The Hawks continue a three-game weekend in Myrtle Beach with two games on Saturday. The first will come against the Cornell Big Red with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. Hartford will close its three-game weekend with a 7 p.m. start against Seton Hall before heading back to New England.