ALBANY, N.Y. – Freshman third baseman Ben Bengtson led the University of Hartford baseball team, going 3-for-5 at the plate as the Hawks dropped a 2-1 decision to Albany in their second extra inning game of the three-game set against the Great Danes. Following the series, Hartford stands at 9-16 overall and 4-3 in the America East.

Bengtson's three hits were part of seven total as the Hawks and Great Danes finished even in the hits column. All four of the remaining Hawks hits came from different players including a single up the middle from sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon who has now hit safely in his last four games, the longest current hitting streak.

Suffering the loss on the hill for the Hawks was closer John McGinty who entered with a tie game in the ninth inning and gave up one run on two hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. The Hawks starter, junior righty Brian Murphy pitched the first six innings and was tagged with the first Albany run, an unearned score, while giving up four hits and striking out two.

Also seeing time on the hill was Jacob Mellin who threw a pair of scoreless innings, giving up just one hit. Mellin also led the three Hawks pitchers with three strikeouts, giving him 16 on the season.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Freshman infielder Ben Bengston completed his eighth multi-hit game of the season, tying his career-high with three hits in four at bats. All three of Bengtson's hits were singles, including two in his final at bats in the eighth and 10th innings. Hit single to short in the 10th led off the inning, but he was unable to score as back-to-back Hawks hit into fielder's choice plays.

·       Junior catcher Joe Roberti picked up the lone RBI of the game for Hartford as he drove in junior centerfielder Aaron Wilson in the sixth inning. Wilson led off the inning with a double to left center and after advancing on back-to-back walks that loaded the bases with one out, scored easily on an infield groundout off Roberti's bat.

·       Redshirt sophomore closer John McGinty suffered the loss on the hill as he entered the game tied at one in the ninth inning. After working out of trouble in the ninth, McGinty gave up a leadoff single in the 10th which came back to haunt him when he scored on a bases loaded single from the nine hole hitter, second baseman Karson Canady.

·       Junior reliever Jacob Mellin put up the best numbers on the hill as he did not allow a run in two innings of work. Mellin pitched to nine total batters, gave up one hit, walked a pair and struck out a staff-high three batters.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       Hartford's only run came in the sixth inning as the Hawks tried the score thanks to an RBI from junior catcher Joe Roberti. Junior centerfielder Aaron Wilson led off the frame with a double to left center field, his onl hit of the afternoon. After one out was recorded, Wilson advanced to third thanks to back-to-back walks issued to David MacKinnon and Ryan Lukach which loaded the bases for Roberti. The Hawks backstop responded by drilling a ball to third base with the Great Danes choosing to take the easy out at first and letting Wilson score. The RBI for Roberti was his fifth of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Freshman infielder Ben Bengtson secured his eight multi-hit game of the season, tying his career-high with three hits. Today's three hits is his third multi-hit outing in the last five games, with two of those games three-hit outings. The three hits against Albany give the corner infielder 23 total for the season, fourth most on the team.

·       Junior right handed starter Brian Murphy made his sixth start of the season and seventh appearance overall. In those seven appearances, Murphy has only been credited with two decisions, this being his fifth game of the season without a decision.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       JR Joe Roberti drove in his 5th run of the season as he allowed the Hawks to tie the game in the 6th and eventually force an extra frame.

·       Junior John McGinty threw a pair of scoreless innings while striking out a team-high three batters pitching two innings out of the bullpen.

·       Freshman infielder Ben Bengtson led the Hawks bats for the third game in the last five, tying his career-high with three hits.

UP NEXT
The Hartford baseball team continues a stretch of five games in four days with a Tuesday afternoon in-state battle against the Sacred Heart Pioneers. The Hawks and Pioneers are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch at the Field at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.