HAMDEN, Conn. – Junior's Aaron Wilson and Chris DelDebbio each finished with three hits, while Wilson knocked in one run, to lead the University of Hartford baseball team to a 7-5 road win over in-state rival Quinnipiac on Tuesday afternoon at the Quinnipiac Baseball Field.

As a team, Hartford combined for 12 hits, outhitting the Bobcats 12-8. The three hits each from DelDebbio and Wilson joined junior catcher Joe Roberti, who finished with two hits, led the Hawks in that category. Wilson's one RBI joined four other Hawks who all knocked in one run apiece.

Included in the Hawks 12 total hits were four for extra bases, the longest of which came in the first at bat of the game with senior shortstop Trey Stover driving his first home run of the season over the fence in left field. The remaining three extra-base hits were all doubles, one each from DelDebbio, Roberti and freshman T.J. Ward.

Earning his first victory of the season was sophomore Brian Stepniak who pitched a pair of relief innings. Stepniak was tagged with allowing one run on three hits while walking one batter and striking out two. Freshman Jake Regula started on the hill for Hartford, pitching three innings and allowing one run on one hit, while striking out a team-high three. Overall, the Hawks used six hurlers with junior reliever Justin Robarge the only one to not allow a run through 1.1 innings of work.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       The Hawks bats were led by a pair of junior's, Aaron Wilson and Chris DelDebbio who each finished with a season-high three hits. Five of the duo's six total hits were singles with the lone extra base hit among the pair a one-out double from DelDebbio that eventually led to a run. Wilson also added an RBI to his credit.

·       Senior shortstop Trey Stover started the game off in impressive fashion for the Hawks as he drilled his first home run of the season over the fence in left field. Stover's home run came with a 1-1 count in the leadoff position in the lineup. It is the first time this season a Hawk has led off the game with a home run.  

·       Hartford finished with 12 total hits, the first double digit hit game since an 11 hit outing on the road at Maine on April 19.

·       The Hawks used a total of six hurlers in the contest with sophomore reliever Brian Stepniak earning his first win of the season. The right hander pitched two innings, allowing one run on three hit and a walk. He also struck out two batters.

·       Junior reliever Justin Robarge was the lone Hawk pitcher to finish without allowing a run. He pitched a total of four outs and gave up one hit and walked one batter.

·       Senior lefthander Austin Barnes closed the game pitching the final 1.1 innings, earning his first save of the season and the fifth of the year for the Hawks. Over his four out outing, Barnes allowed one unearned run on one hit while not conceding a walk.  

HOW THEY SCORED

·       Hartford opened up its scoring just three pitches into the game when senior shortstop Trey Stover drove his first home run of the season and the fourth of his career over the fence in left field. That was the first of back-to-back hits for the Hawks to begin the game.

·       The Hawks added two more runs in the third inning before allowing a Quinnipiac score. Junior centerfielder Chris DelDebbio began the two-run rally with a one-out double to left field before advancing to third on a balk. He would eventually sore thanks to a sacrifice fly to left from senior Ryan Lukach. Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon would score the second run of the inning after initially reaching base when he was hit by a pitch. After also advancing a base on the balk, MacKinnon scored thanks to an RBI single up the middle from leftfielder Nick Campana.

·       After conceding their first run in the bottom of the third, the Hawks answered right back with a single run in the fourth. Freshman designated hitter T.J. Ward led off the frame with a double to right field, his second two-bagger of the season. After advancing to third on a single from junior Aaron Wilson, Ward was able to score thanks to a wild pitch.

·       An error in the seventh inning extended the frame and allowed the Hawks to score an additional run before adding the final two in the eighth. In the seventh, Wilson led off the inning with a single up the middle and eventually scored the run. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and took third on a wild pitch, eventually scoring on the error in left field that allowed MacKinnon to reach safely.

·       The final two runs in the eighth inning came thanks to RBI's from Wilson and junior catcher Joe Roberti. Campana led off the inning working a walk and was then sacrificed to second on a bunt from classmate Ben Bengston. Roberti followed with a double to right center that drove in Campana for the initial run. Roberti was then rewarded on the next at bat, the third hit of the game for the second baseman, Wilson, as he was able to score from second on an infield hit.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Hartford finished with 12 hits, their first double figure hit game since April 19 when they finished with 11 on the road at Maine. The 12 hits is also the most for Hartford since the Hawks first meeting of the season against Maine, which came on March 21, when they finished with 15.

·       Among the Hawks 12 hits were four doubles which ties the season high for the team. The most recent game with four doubles also came when the Hawks were at Maine, this time during the doubleheader on April 18.

·       The three hits each for junior's Chris DelDebbio and Aaron Wilson were season-bests for the classmates. It is the second time this year that Wilson has finished with three hits, while DelDebbio's three hits was the first time this season.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Senior Trey Stover led off the game for Hartford with a home run to left field on the third bitch of the contest.

·       Junior's Chris DelDebbio and Aaron Wilson each finished with three hits to lead the Hawks 12 total hits.

·       Hartford's 12 hits are the most for the team since a March 21 game against Maine when they finished with 15.

UP NEXT
Hartford returns to America East action when they open up the month of May with a three-game weekend series against the current league leader, Stony Brook. Hartford will travel to Joe Nathan Field for the league series which will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2 and conclude with a single game on Sunday, May 3. First pitch on both days is scheduled for 12 p.m.