NEW HAVEN, Conn. – For the second day in a row, freshman third baseman Ben Bengtson led the University of Hartford baseball team, going 3-for-4 at the plate while driving in an insurance run run in the 10th inning as the Hawks defeated Yale 5-2 in 10 innings on Wednesday.

Bengtson's three hits were part of eight total as the Hawks outhit Yale 8-6 en route to the victory. Over the past two games, Bengtson has finished with five hits in eight at bats, including a double in today's win that drove in classmate Sebastian DiMauro. DiMauro was one of five Hawks who joined Bengtson in the hits column, with his a double to left that drove in the game-winning run, centerfielder Aaron Wilson who led off the inning reaching base with a walk.

Earning the victory on the hill for the Hawks was sophomore junior reliever Jacob Mellin, his first win of the season, evening his record at 1-1 overall. Mellin closed out the game, pitching the ninth and 10th innings without allowing a run and giving up just one hit. He also struck out a team-best four batters, which ties his career-high.

Redshirt sophomore John McGinty made his first start of the season in his seventh appearance of the year, pitching a scoreless three innings. Freshman Ben Brown also threw three scoreless innings as the Hawks held Yale without a run through the first six innings.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Freshman infielder Ben Bengston completed his seventh multi-hit game of the season, tying his career-high with three hits in four at bats. One of Bengtson's two hits was a double, his fifth of the season which ties him for the team-high with classmate Nick Campana. The double for Bengtson came in the 10th inning, part of back-to-back two-baggers that both drove in runs.

·       Freshman right fielder Sebastian DiMauro was the first player in the 10th inning that drilled a double, with his second of the season going into left field and driving in centerfielder Aaron Wilson who led off the inning working a walk. That RBI proved to be the game-winning run.

·       Three Hawks pitcher all finished without allowing a Yale run, with the trio combining for eight total innings. Hartford first two hurlers, redshirt sophomore John McGinty and freshman Ben Brown combined to hold the Bulldogs scoreless through the first six innings with Brown not allowing a hit. McGinty gave up three hits, but also struck out three batters.

·       Earning the victory on the hill was junior reliever Jacob Mellin who pitched the final two innings without allowing a Yale run. The win for Mellin is his first of the season, while he gave up one run and struck out four batters, which ties his career high.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       Hartford started off its scoring early, pushing one run across the plate in the first inning. Senior shortstop Trey Stover scored the first run, originally reaching base when he was hit by a pitch. That was followed by Ben Bengtson's first hit of the game, a single through the left side that allowed Stover to reach third. With the bases loaded, sophomore catcher Joe Roberti sacrificed himself to drive in the first run with a fly ball to right field

·       The Hawks added a single run in the sixth inning, taking a 2-0 lead. Bengtson led off the inning working a walk and a sacrifice bunt from redshirt senior right fielder Ryan Lukach pushed him into scoring position. With two outs in the books, Bengtson was able to score from second thanks to a single to left field off the bat of designated hitter Erik Ostberg, his fourth RBI of the season.

·       Facing a 2-2 tie in the 10th inning, the Hawks bats picked up and put together a streak of three-straight hits that all resulted in runs. Junior centerfielder Aaron Wilson led off the inning with a walk and got himself into scoring position with his second stolen base of the season. After one out was recorded, Sebastian DiMauro began the hitting streak with a double to left field that allowed Wilson to score the go-ahead run. Bengtson followed that with his fifth double of the season, this one to right center, which pushed DiMauro across the plate. Lukach followed with a single to right field that allowed DiMauro to score a second insurance tally.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Freshman infielder Ben Bengtson secured his seventh multi-hit game of the season, tying his career-high with three hits. This is also the second-straight game that Bengtson finished with two or more hits.  

·       One of Bengtson's hits was a double, which ties him with classmate Nick Campana for the team lead.

·       Hartford used five pitchers in the midweek game, with three of the five combining to hold Yale scoreless over eight total innings.

·       Junior reliever Jacob Mellin earned the victory on the hill and while pitching the final two innings struck out four batters, a team-best for the game and tying his career high.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Hartford pitching staff combined to throw eight scoreless innings against the Bulldogs.

·       Freshman Ben Brown led the Hawks pitching staff as he held Yale without a hit over three innings of work.

·       Freshman infielder Ben Bengtson led the Hawks bats for the second-straight game, tying his career-high with three hits in four at bats.

·       FR OF Sebastian DiMauro finished with one hit in three at bats with that hit a double in the 10th inning that drove in the game-winning run.

UP NEXT
The Hartford baseball team returns to league play with a three-game weekend series against the Albany Great Danes in the state capital of New York. The Hawks and Great Danes are scheduled to open the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 4, with the first pitch set for 12 p.m.