NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Freshman right hander Kevin Tise earned his first collegiate victory and classmate Nick Campana led the Hawks at the plate going 2-for-5 with an RBI as the University of Hartford baseball team defeated CCSU 4-3 on Wednesday afternoon at Balf Savin Field.

Campana was one of six players who hit safely in Hartford's first game in the Northeast. Overall, Hartford finished with seven hits, matching the Blue Devils in that column. Joining Campana in knocking in runs for the Hawks was the left side of Hartford's infield, senior shortstop Trey Stover and freshman third baseman Ben Bengston who each drove in one run.

On the hill, Tise earned the victory, pitching a pair of scoreless relief innings as Hartford built a 2-0 lead while he was on the bump. Freshman Anthony Rovasio started on the mound for Hartford, also pitching a pair of scoreless innings. Both Rovasio and Tise held the Blue Devils hitless through four innings, while fellow rookie Ben Brown also held CCSU without a hit in the fifth inning, despite being tagged with a pair of unearned runs.

Redshirt sophomore John McGinty earned his second save of the season, currently a perfect 2-0 in save opportunities this season. McGinty would pitch the eighth and ninth innings for the Hawks, giving up the final Blue Devil run, but stranding the game-tying run on second base to secure the victory.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Freshman outfielder Nick Campana finished with his team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-of-5 at the plate while driving in his fourth run of the year. Campana was one of six players who hit safely against the Blue Devils as Hartford matched CCSU with seven hits apiece. Campana has now collected at least one hit in each of the last three games.

·       Hartford pitching staff held the Blue Devils without a hit through the first five innings, building a 4-0 lead. Freshmen Anthony Rovasio and Kevin Tise each pitched two innings without allowing a hit, while fellow rookie Ben Brown also pitched an inning without allowing a hit, despite giving up a pair of unearned runs. Tise earned his first victory of the season.

·       Redshirt sophomore John McGinty entered the eighth inning with a two-run lead and held on to earn his second save of the season. McGinty allowed one run on four hits, but stranded the game-tying run at second base to secure the Hawks victory.

·       Sophomore David MacKinnon and freshman Erik Ostberg each extended their current hit streaks to four straight games, which is currently the longest on the team.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       Hartford opened its scoring in the third inning, thanks in part to the first of three Blue Devil errors. With one out in the inning, sophomore centerfielder Aaron Wilson reached safely thanks to a throwing error at third base. He then wheeled home from first on the next at bat as freshman Nick Campana drilled his first hit of the game into left center, a double for the rookie outfielder.

·       The Hawks added another single run in the fourth inning, this time with rookie Ben Bengston providing the muscle that allowed sophomore second baseman Dalton Ruch to score from first. Ruch, who led off the inning, also rounded the bases thanks to an extra base hit as Bengston knocked a double into left center.

·       Hartford added two more runs in the fifth inning, the first as Campana took advantage of a throwing error at third base. Campana and sophomore David MacKinnon led off the inning with back-to-back hits, a single up the middle for Campana and a double down the left field line for MacKinnon, putting both in scoring position. After a walk loaded the bases, Campana scored thanks to a fielder's choice that resulted in a throwing error by the third baseman. MacKinnon would score the second run on an infield groundout with short stop Trey Stover driving in the run.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Redshirt sophomore pitcher John McGinty earned his second save of the season, in as many attempts. McGinty pitched two innings against the Blue Devils and was tagged with one run on four hits, but stranded the potential game-tying run at second base.

·       Sophomore David MacKinnon and freshman Erik Ostberg both finished with one hit against the Blue Devils, extending their team-leading hitting streak to four straight games.

·       The two hits for freshman Nick Campana is his team-leading sixth extra base hit of the season. Campana currently leads Hartford with 15 hits.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Freshman Nick Campana finished with two hits, his sixth multi-hit game, and drove in one run to lead the Hawks bats.

·       Freshman pitcher Kevin Tise earned his first victory of the season, in what was his first appearance of the season.

·       Redshirt sophomore reliever John McGinty earned his second save of the year in as many opportunities.

·       SO David MacKinnon and FR Erik Ostberg each hit safely against CCSU, extending their hit streaks to four straight games.

UP NEXT
Hartford will close out its 16-game season opening road trip with its 2015 America East opening series in Baltimore, Md. against the UMBC Retrievers. The Hawks and Retrievers are scheduled to open the three-game set with a single game on Saturday with the first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.