PROVO, Utah – One of four players to finish with three hits, Ryan Lukach drilled a pair home runs as the University of Hartford baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against the BYU Cougars on Friday night.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, Lukach sailed both of his hits over the fence, driving in three runs as Hartford dropped an 8-6 decision to the Cougars. He was one of three players who finished with two hits in the opener, joined by infielders Ben Bengston and Dalton Ruch.

Rookie TJ Ward would lead the Hawks in the nightcap as he finished with three hits in four at bats, while driving in one run and scoring twice. Joining his in leading the team was designate hitter Chris DelDebbio and leftfielder Nick Campana who each finished with two hits.

Overall for the day, Hartford finished with 22 total hits and a .324 batting average with Bengston, Ward, DelDebbio and Lukach all leading the team with four hits. Ruch joined sophomore David MacKinnon and junior Aaron Wilson who each finished with two hits combined over the doubleheader.  

On the hill, the Hawks were led by their game one starter, junior right hander Brian Murphy who finished with a no-decision over 5.2 innings of work. Murphy gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits with a pair of strikeouts to his credit. Suffering the loss in the opening game for Hartford was reliever Justin Robarge who allowed four earned runs on seven hits over two and a third inning of work. In the nightcap, starter Jacob Mellin suffered his first loss of the season as he gave up six runs, five earned on four hits over two innings of work.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

·       Right fielder Ryan Lukach led the Hawks bats with two hits, both of which he sailed over the fence for a team-high three home runs. Lukach also finished the game with three RBI for the third time this season, leading the team on the season with nine.

·       Joining Lukach in leading the Hawks at the plate was infielders Ben Bengston and Dalton Ruch who each finished with two hits, while Bengston drove in one run. For the game, Hartford finished with 10 hits compared to a dozen for the Cougars.

·       Lukach opened Hartford scoring in the first innings with a two-run blast to right field, driving in first baseman David MacKinnon who worked a two-out walk to reach base. The Hawks followed that with two runs in the second inning that led to a 4-1 lead. Bengston and centerfielder Aaron Wilson each finished with RBI's in the second as the pair drove in runs off of singles.

·       Lukach's final RBI of the game came in the ninth inning as he looked to spar the Hawks offense with a two out solo blast over the right field fence that pulled Hartford within two runs at 8-6.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

·       Freshman shortstop Ben Bengston led the Hawks bats at the plate as he finished 3-of-4 at the plate with an RBI. Ward started the game with three-straight hits before hitting into a groundout in his final at bat. His lone RBI of the game came in the fourth inning, part of a three-run rally for the Hawks. Ward drove in the Hawks first run of the inning on a second-straight single to left field.

·       Leadoff hitter Chris DelDebbio and leftfielder Nick Campana each finished with two hits, helping to lead the Hawks to 12 total hits in the nightcap.

·       DelDebbio led Hartford with a pair of RBI as he drove in runs on both of his hits, each of which were singles to left field in the fourth and sixth innings.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Redshirt senior Ryan Lukach drove in three runs for the third time this season as he led the Hawks in the opening game with two hits, both home runs. He now leads the team on the season with three home runs.

·       Freshman Nick Campana registered his fifth multi-hit game of the season, finishing with two of the Hawks 12 hits in the nightcap.

·       Designated hitter Chris DelDebbio drove in a pair of runs in a single game for the first time this season, DelDebbio has now hit safely in eight of the nine games this season, all in the leadoff position in the lineup.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Redshirt SR outfielder Ryan Lukach drove in three runs for the third time this season, all of which came on two home runs.

·       Freshman Nick Campana finished with his fifth multi-hit game of the season with two hits in the Hawks second game of the day.

·       Designate hitter Chris DelDebbio has hit safely in all but one game this season, finishing with 3 total hits in the doublheader against BYU

UP NEXT
The Hawks close out the four game series with BYU on Saturday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. (EST).