BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Four University of Hartford pitchers combined to hold the Sacred Heart Pioneers without a hit as the Hawks posted their second shutout of the season, a 10-0 decision over in-state rival Sacred Heart on Tuesday at the Field at Harbor Yard. With the victory, the Hawks improve to 10-16 on the season.

Earning the victory on the hill was freshman reliever Jake Regula, his first decision of the season, who came out of the bullpen to pitch three innings, facing just one batter over his minimum. Classmate Ben Brown opened the game and through a pair of innings. Junior Justin Robarge and freshman Kevin Tise joined Regula and Brown in holding the Pioneers without a hit, with each recording a pair of strikeouts.  

At the plate, Hartford was led by redshirt senior right fielder Ryan Lukach who finished 1-of-3 overall, while driving in three runs. Overall, the Hawks combined for seven hits with all seven coming from different players. Joining Lukach in rive in multiple runs was sophomore second baseman Dalton Ruch who was also 1-of-3 while knocking in two runs and scoring twice out of the leadoff position. Five other Hawks also drove in runs.

Of the Hawks seven total hits, two were extra base knocks, both doubles, from Ruch and freshman Ben Bengtson. Ruch's two-bagger also led to both of his RBI as he drove in two of five runs scored in the eighth inning. Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon also joined in the hit column as he finished with one hit in three at bats, extending his team-high hitting streak to five straight games. MacKinnon also drove in a run as his single in the eighth scored the fourth Hawk run in the eighth inning.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Three freshman and one junior pitcher combined to throw the Hawks second shutout and first no-hit outing of the season. Earning the victory on the hill was rookie reliever Jake Regula who threw the longest outing of the four hurlers, three innings. Regula would give up on walk and strike out one. Fellow rookie Ben Brown opened up the game for the Hawks pitching two innings, facing eight batters overall.

·       The final two pitchers for Hartford, junior Justin Robarge and freshman Kevin Tise combined to throw four innings and strikeout four total batters, two apiece.

·       The no-hitter for the Hawks pitching staff is the second under head coach Justin Blood and the first for Hartford since March 24, 2012 against Yale. That game was a seven inning outing, the second in a doubleheader with the Bulldogs, as Hartford posted a 1-0 victory. Hartford's first round draftee in 2014, Sean Newcomb, threw the complete game in that no-hitter, striking out 10 batters and giving up two walks in what was his fifth start in a Hartford uniform.

·       Redshirt senior outfielder Ryan Lukach matched the season-high for all players, knocking in three runs, while finishing as one of seven Hawks who combined to collect seven total hits against the Pioneers. Lukach's first two RBI came on a bases loaded single to right field, while he sacrificed himself in the eighth inning to drive in the final run in a five-run inning.

·       Sophomore second baseman Dalton Ruch drove in two runs for the third time this season, as he finished 1-of-3 at the plate and scored twice, batting in the leadoff position in the lineup. Ruch's hit was one of two extra base knocks for the Hawks, a double to left in the eighth that drove in two runs.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       Hartford opened its scoring in the fourth inning making a leadoff walk issued to redshirt senior Ryan Lukach come back to haunt the Pioneers. After stealing second, Lukach would advance to third on an infield groundout and score thanks to another ground ball to second with freshman catcher Erik Ostberg knocking Lukach in.

·       The Hawks broke open their lead with a four-run fifth inning, thanks in part to four free passes, one hit batter and three walks. The first base runner of the inning was freshman third baseman TJ Ward who was hit by a pitch. He advanced to third on a pair of wild pitcher, while the next three batters, Dalton Ruch, David MacKinnon and Ben Bengtson all worked walks with Bengtson's pushing Ward home. Lukach followed the walk to Bengtson with a single to right field that scored Ruch and MacKinnon and allowed Bengtson to advance to third. He would then score on a sacrifice bunt from rookie leftfielder Nick Campana.

·       The final five runs for Hartford all came in the eighth inning. Ostberg began the offense when he was the first of seven straight batters to reach base safely when he drilled a single through the left side. The next two batters would reach on free passes with Chris DelDebbio being hit by a pitch and Aaron Wilson working a walk that loaded the bases. Ward would follow with a single to left field that drove in Ostberg for the first run of the inning. With the bases still loaded, Ruch smacked a double to left field that scored two runs and left two runners in scoring position. MacKinnon followed Ruch's hit with a second straight hit, a single to left field that drove in Ward. Another walk issued to Bengtson again loaded the bases for Lukach whose fly ball to centerfield allowed for the final run of the inning to score as Ruch tagged up on the play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Redshirt senior outfielder Ryan Lukach drove in three runs for the fourth time this season, while it is the fifth time overall for the team. Freshman Ben Bengtson is the only other Hawk to drive in three runs.

·       The three RBI for Lukach extend his team-high to 22 for the season, which is also second most in the America East.

·       Sophomore second baseman Dalton Ruch joined Lukach in the multi-RBI column as he drove in two runs for the third time this season. He has now driven in 10 runs, tied for third most on the season.

·       The Hawks no-hitter against Sacred Heart is the second under fourth year head coach Justin Blood with the first coming in his inaugural season with the Hawks (2012).

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Four Hawks pitcher, three freshmen and a junior, combined to throw a no-hitter as @UHartBaseball scored a 10-0 shutout of the Pioneers.

·       Redshirt SR outfielder Ryan Lukach and SO second baseman Dalton Ruch led the Hawks offense with three and two RBI, respectively.

·       The Hawks finished with 7 total hits all coming from different players. Two of those hits were doubles from Dalton Ruch and David MacKinnon.

UP NEXT
The Hartford baseball team closes out a stretch of five games in four days with a Wednesday afternoon battle against the UConn Huskies. The Hawks and Huskies are scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch at the J.O. Christian Field in Storrs, Conn.