WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Freshman third baseman Ben Bengtson continued his hot hitting with a four-hit outing to lead the University of Hartford baseball team in a 9-3 loss to the Binghamton Bearcats in the series finale on Sunday. For the weekend, Bengston finished with eight hits and hit. 571, which extends his season batting average to a team-best .356.

Bengtson's four hits came by way of two singles and two doubles as he closed out the weekend with four extra base hits on three doubles and a triple. Against Binghamton on Sunday, Bengtson's four hits is the first time a Hawks has finished with more than three hits in a game in 2015, while he also drove in two runs in Sunday's series finale.

Joining Bengtson with leading the Hawks bats was sophomore David MacKinnon who finished with two hits, opening up the game 2-for-2 at the plate. The two hits on Sunday extends his team-leading hitting streak to nine-straight games, while he also finished the weekend with a plus-.500 batting average with seven hits in 13 at bats (.538).

Suffering the loss on the hill for Hartford was junior starter Brian Murphy who was tagged with three of the Bearcats runs, all earned, on nine hits while striking out a weekend-best five batters. Junior reliever Justin Robarge was the lone Hawks pitcher, of four used, to not allow a Bearcat run as he pitched four perfect innings, retiring all six batters he faced in order.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Freshman Ben Bengtson posted the first four-hit game of the season for the Hawks as he finished 4-of-5 at the plate with two of those hits doubles. The two doubles give the rookie third baseman 10 for the season, which leads the Hawks. Bengtson also drove in two runs in Sunday's series finale, giving him 16 RBI for the year.

·       Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon joined Bengtson with a multi-hit game as he finished 2-for-4 at the plate, extending his team-leading hitting streak to nine straight games.

·       Two other Hawks finished with two hits, freshman third baseman Erik Ostberg and junior catcher Joe Roberti, as the Hawks finished with 11 hits overall. Ostberg also drove in one run.

·       Junior relief pitcher Justin Robarge put up the best numbers on the hill for Hartford as he pitched two innings of perfect baseball, retiring all six batters he faced in order, forcing all six into fly ball outs.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       All three of the Hawks runs came in different innings with the first tally in the third inning, tying the score at one run apiece. With one out in the book, sophomore David MacKinnon and freshman Ben Bengtson went back-to-back with doubles to left and left center, respectively. The second of those two-baggers from Bengtson resulted in his first RBI of the afternoon as he drove in MacKinnon from third after advancing on a wild pitch.

·       The second run for Hartford came in the sixth inning and forced the Bearcats starting pitcher Rob Hardy out of the game. With one out, senior shortstop Trey Stover reached on a free pass when he was hit by a pitch. He would score on the next at bat as rookie designated hitter Erik Ostberg belted a double to left center that allowed Stover to score from first standing up.

·       Hartford's final run came with two outs in the ninth inning and thanks to the second RBI of the game from Bengtson. Centerfielder Chris DelDebbio would score the Hawks final run after leading off the frame with a walk. A single from Joe Roberti and a walk issued to pinch hitter TJ Ward loaded the bases. After a lineout double play recorded the first outs of the inning, Bengtson drilled his second double of the game to right center allowing DelDebbio to score easily from first.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       The four hits from freshman third baseman Ben Bengtson is the first four-hit game of the season or a Hartford batter. Overall it is the 10th multi-hit game of the season for the rookie, who also finished with three hits in yesterday's nightcap.

·       Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon finished with seven hits over the three-game series, hitting safely in all three games to extend his team-best hitting streak to nine straight games. In that stretch, MacKinnon is 16-of-33 (.485) with at least two hits in each of his last four games.

·       In addition to Bengtson setting a career-high with four hits, the rookie corner infielder as knocked in two runs for the first time in his career.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Freshman Ben Bengtson drilled two doubles and two singles for the Hawks first four-hit game of the season.

·       Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon finished with two hits to extend his current hitting streak to nine straight games.

·       Junior reliever Justin Robarge pitched the final two innings for the Hawks, retiring all six batters he faced in order.

·       FR third baseman Ben Bengtson set a pair of career-highs on Sunday with his four hits and two RBI.

UP NEXT
Hartford will close out a five-game homestand on Tuesday afternoon when they welcome the Quinnipiac Bobcats to Fiondella Field for the first of two meetings between the in-state rival. First pitch from Fiondella Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.