WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Junior centerfielder Chris DelDebbio drove in a career-high five runs all of which came on home runs as he finished 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the University of Hartford baseball team to a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Rhode Island Rams. With the win, Hartford improves to 14-22 on the season, while the Rams fall to 15-16-1 in 2015.

DelDebbio's two hits joined classmate and second baseman Aaron Wilson in leading the team as they pair combined for half of the Hawks eight total hits, which matched the Rams total hits. Both of Wilson's hits were singles, the second of which was a bunt single in the seventh, with the middle infielder eventually scoring the game-winning run later in that frame

DelDebbio's two home runs is the first time he has hit multiple yard balls in the same game. His first was a three-run blast with no outs in the fifth inning which cut what was at the time a 6-0 deficit in half. He then drove in two runs with his second homer in the seventh, again with no outs, which sparked a four-run inning that led to the Hawks taking a 7-6 lead. Both of DelDebbio's home runs were to left field.

On the hill, the Hawks victory fell in the hands of junior reliever Jacob Mellin his third win of the season which is tied with Jeremy Charles and Sam McKay for the most on the pitching staff. Charles also got in on the action as he secured his first save of the season, pitching two innings without allowing a run on one hit and striking out three batters. Mellin also pitched a pair of scoreless innings, giving up two hits and walking two while recording one out by strikeout.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Junior Chris DelDebbio drove in a career-high five runs on a pair of home runs to spark a Hawks comeback victory. DelDebbio's first home run of the game was a three-run blast to left field, while he drove in two more in the seventh when he cleared the fence in left center. For the game the centerfielder finished 2-for-4 at the plate while also reaching base on an infield error.

·       Redshirt senior Ryan Lukach also drove in a run for the Hawks, when he sacrificed himself on a fly ball to left field that drove in the eventual game-winning run in Aaron Wilson who reached base on a bunt single.

·       Senior shortstop Trey Stover rounded out the Hawks who drove in runs as he plated the game-tying run on a bunt single with freshman TJ Ward scoring on the play.

·       Also finishing with a hit in the game was sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon whose single through the left side in the first inning extended his career-high hitting streak to 15-straight games.

·       A pair of Hawks pitchers held the Rams scoreless over the final four innings of the game with each having a hand in the victory. Junior reliever Jacob Mellin pitched two innings and gave up two hits but held the Rams without a run to earn his third victory of the season in four total decision. Classmate Jeremy Charles would reliever Mellin and pitch the eighth and ninth innings, holding the Rams scoreless despite giving up one hit. Charles also struck out three batters, earning his first save of the season.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       The first three runs for Hartford came on one swing of the bat as junior centerfielder Chris DelDebbio drilled a ball that cleared both fences in left field before landing over 25 feet beyond the outfield fence. His second home run of the season drove in three runs and cut the Rams lead in half as he scored leftfielder Nick Campana and catcher Erik Ostberg who led off the inning with a single and a walk, respectively.

·       DelDebbio began another Hartford rally in the seventh inning when he blasted his second home run of the game over the fence in left field scoring Ostberg who led off the inning with a single.

·       Following DelDebbio's second home run, pinch hitter TJ Ward reached safely on a throwing error at third, also taking second on the same play. Junior second baseman Aaron Wilson followed that by bunting his way onboard putting runners on first and third for senior shortstop Trey Stover. The middle infielder also used a bunt with no one out in the frame, sacrifice himself to drive in Ward. Stover also reached base safely on the fielder's choice.

·       After the first out was recorded, freshman Ben Bengtson loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. Senior Ryan Lukach came to the plate with runners on all three bases and did exactly what was asked of him, lifted a ball to left field, sacrificing himself to drive in Wilson for the game-winning run.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       The two-home run game for junior centerfielder Chris DelDebbio is the second two-home runs game of the season for Hartford with redshirt senior right fielder Ryan Lukach going yard twice against BYU. It is also the first two-home run outing in DelDebbio's career.

·       The five RBI for DelDebbio is a season-best for all players with the previous season-high three. The five RBI is also a career-high for the outfielder.

·       Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon finished with one of the Hawks eight hits, a single in the first inning that extended his team-leading and career-long hitting streak to 15 straight games. The previous longest hitting streak in 2015 was nine-straight games from Trey Stover and Nick Campana.

·       The sacrifice fly for Ryan Lukach in the seventh inning drove in one run, his team and conference leading 34th run knocked in.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       JR centerfielder Chris DelDebbio drove in five run on two home runs to left field to lead the Hawks bats.

·       Redshirt-senior Ryan Lukach drove in the game-winning run in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly, his team and league-leading 34th RBI.

·       SO first baseman David MacKinnon extended his team-leading hitting streak to 15-straight games, hitting .474 in his current streak.

·       The Hawks 7-6 win was their fourth 1-run win, while when scoring six or more runs in 2015, the Hawks are 9-3 overall.

UP NEXT
Hartford will host its final weekend conference series when they welcome the UMass Lowell River Hawks to Fiondella Field on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26. The first pitch on both days is scheduled for 12 p.m. with Saturday set to be a doubleheader. The River Hawks, who are in their second year of transitioning to Division I, will make their first appearance on the Hawks West Hartford campus with the first meetings last season taking place at the home of the America East Championship, LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass.