WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against the visiting Bryant Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon, falling 3-0 in the opener and 3-2 in the nightcap. For the day, Hartford was led by junior catcher Joe Roberti who finished with three hits, all coming in game two of the doubleheader as he was 3-for-4 against the Bulldogs.

In addition to Roberti, two other Hawks finished with two hits to lead the Hawks bats, sophomores Dalton Ruch and David MacKinnon. Ruch split his two hits over the two games, finishing 1-for-3 in the opener and 1-of-4 in the nightcap. MacKinnon collected both of his hits in the second game as he finished 2-for-3 at the plate while driving in one run. Freshman left fielder Nick Campana drove in the Hawks other run on the day.

Both of the Hawks starters suffered the losses on the hill. In the early game, junior right hander Kyle Gauthier allowed all three of the Bulldogs runs, all of which came on a home run, in six innings of work. Gauthier would be tagged with four total hits while striking out four batters. In game two, junior Sam McKay suffered the loss as he pitched seven innings and games up all three Bryant runs on five hits, while recording a team-high five strikeouts.

The Hawks two relievers, juniors Jeremy Charles and Brian Murphy both finished without allowing a hit in five combined innings of work. Charles would pitch the final three innings in the first game of the afternoon as had a perfect outing, facing the minimum nine batters and recording four outs by way of strikeouts. Murphy pitched two innings in the nightcap and struck out one batter while walking one, facing six total batters.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

·       The Hawks finished with just two hits in the opening game, both of which came in the sixth inning. Sophomore Dalton Ruch and junior Aaron Wilson would each hit singles in the inning, but neither would advance past first base. The only Hartford runner to advance into scoring position was Wilson who reached second after being walked to lead off the frame.

·       The highlight of the game for the Hawks came from the bullpen by way of junior reliever Jeremy Charles. The right hander took over in the seventh inning and pitched a perfect three inning outing. Facing his minimum of nine batters, Charles did not allow a hit and recorded four outs by way of strikeouts.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

·       The Hawks finished game two with a 10-5 advantage in hits, led by junior catcher Joe Roberti who started off the contest perfect in his first three at bats, and closed out the game 3-of-4 at the plate. Roberti's first hit of the day was the only extra base hit for the Hawks a double down the right field line. He would eventually score in the inning, providing a 2-0 lead at the time.

·       Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon joined Roberti as the only other Hawk to finish with multiple hits as he scattered two hits in three at bats over six innings. Mackinnon's first hit was a single to center in the first inning which knocked in Hartford's first run of the game as Bengston scored from third after leading the inning off with a single through the left side.

·       Freshman outfielder Nick Campana also drove in a run for the Hawks, his seventh of the season. Campana provided the hit in the second inning that allowed Roberti to score after his leadoff double. His hit was a single up the middle.

·       The Hawks pitching highlight again came from the bullpen as the lone reliever for Hartford, Brian Murphy, did not allow a hit after taking over for the eighth and ninth innings. Murphy faced six total batters, walking one but that runner was erased trying to swipe second. Murphy also struck out one.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       The three-hit game for junior Joe Roberti is his first game of the season with three hits and just his second multi-hit outing of the season.

·       The RBI for freshman Nick Campana in the second game was his seventh of the season, third most on the team.

·       The four strikeouts for junior reliever Jeremy Charles in three innings of work in the first game is a new career-high for the hurler.

·       The four strikeouts for starter Kyle Gauthier in the first game extends his team-high lead in that category to 24 total for the season.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Junior catcher Joe Roberti led the Hawks bats on the day as he finished with three hits in four at bats in game two of the doubleheader.

·       The Hawks outhit Bryant 10-5 in the nightcap, led by Joe Roberti's three hits and David MacKinnon's two this.

·       The Hawks two relief pitchers on the day combined for five innings of scoreless baseball, led by Jeremy Charles' perfect three innings.

·       Junior starter Sam McKay led four Hawks pitchers on the day with five strikeouts in seven innings of work.

UP NEXT
Hartford will close out what has turned into a 10-game homestand with a single midweek contest against the Holy Cross Crusaders. Hartford and Holy Cross are scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday, March 31 at Fiondella Field.