CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon began a four-run eighth inning rally with a two RBI single up the middle, leading the University of Hartford baseball team to a 5-2 win over the Boston College to complete a weekend split with the Eagles. The Hawks dropped the first game of the series on Saturday by a 4-1 decision.

MacKinnon joined senior shortstop Trey Stover in leading the Hawks through the weekend with three hits apiece. Both Stover and MacKinnon finished with two hits in the win on Sunday, while they joined two other players who all finished with one hit in Saturday's loss. One of Stover's three hits went for extra bases, one of four doubles total for the weekend.

Joining Stover with extra base knocks was freshman Ben Bengtson, junior catcher Joe Roberti and junior second baseman Aaron Wilson. The double from Roberti led to the Hawks first run of Sunday's win, with Stover driving in that tally with his first hit of the game, a single to left field. Ostberg's double also knocked in a run as he drove in the final run in the four-run eighth inning rally on his two-bagger to center.

Redshirt senior Ryan Lukach also drove in a run in Sunday's win when he knocked in MacKinnon, while Wilson drove in the lone run on Saturday when his bunt single in the fifth allowed freshman third baseman TJ Ward to score after originally reaching base on an error.

Earning the win for Hartford on Sunday was junior reliever Jeremy Charles, his team-leading fourth win of the season. Charles pitched two and a third innings of scoreless ball, part of a three-person bullpen that held the Eagles scoreless over the final 4.2 innings. Junior Jacob Mellin also earned a save on Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Suffering the loss on Saturday was senior Austin Barnes, his first loss in three decisions.  

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

·       Four Hawks all finished with one hit on Saturday as the team combined for four hits, compared to seven total for the Eagles. The lone extra base hit among the four total came from senior shortstop Trey Stover who drilled a two-out double to right field in the third.

·       An infield error in the fifth led the Hartford's only run of the day, tying the score at one. Freshman TJ Ward took advantage of the miscue, reaching on the throwing error at third base. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from catcher Joe Roberti, Ward took third on a wild pitch. With just one out in the frame, junior infielder Aaron Wilson laid down a bunt that led to a successful squeeze attempt with Ward scoring on the play.

·       Junior starter Kyle Gauthier pitched four innings in a no-decision outing against the Eagles. Gauthier finished the game allowing one run one three hits and a walk. He also finished four a weekend-high four strikeouts, including three in the second inning as he struck out the side.

·       Suffering the loss on the hill was senior reliever Austin Barnes who threw one inning of middle relief, allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk. The loss for Barnes is his first of the season in three decisions.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

·       Junior first baseman David MacKinnon drove in a team-high two runs, both of which came in the eighth inning as he sparked a four-run rally for a come-back victory. MacKinnon drove in both runs on a single up the middle that knocked in junior Aaron Wilson and senior Trey Stover.

·       Wilson was one of seven total players to finish with at least one hit as he led of that eighth inning with a double to center field, one of three two-baggers in the game.

·       Stover joined MacKinnon in leading the Hawks at the plate as he finished 2-f-4 at with both hits singles. His first hit of the game in the third inning led the Hawks first run of he game as he drove in catcher Joe Roberti who double to left center.  

·       Three Hawks reliever held Boston College without a run over the final 4.2 innings of the game. Earning the victory on the hill was junior reliever Jeremy Charles, his team-leading fourth win of the season. Freshman John LaRossa and junior Jacob Mellin joined him, each pitching one inning of scoreless baseball, with neither allowing a BC hit. Mellin, who faced just three innings in a perfect ninth inning, earned his first career save.

·       Junior starter Brian Murphy pitched the first 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks. He also tied the weekend-high with four strikeouts.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Hartford finished the two-game non-league weekend set at Boston College errorless, while the Eagles suffered a pair of miscues.

·       The two RBI for sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon in Sunday's win was his fourth game of the eon driving in two runs.

·       Each of the Hawks starting pitchers led the team with four strike outs a piece, Kyle Gauthier and Brian Murphy.

·       The save for junior reliever Jacob Mellin was his first career save in 45 appearances, all but two out of the pen.

·       Junior Jeremy Charles earned his team-leading fourth save of the season as he pitched just shy of three innings scoreless.  

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Sophomore David MacKinnon triggered a four-run eighth inning rally with a two RBI single up the middle.

·       Junior Jeremy Charles earned his team-leading fourth win of the season as he threw 2.2 innings of scoreless ball.

·       Also a junior reliever, Jacob Mellin earned his first collegiate save, pitching a perfect ninth inning in the win.

·       Senior shortstop Trey Stover joined MacKinnon in leading the Hawks with three hits over the weekend, one of which was a double.

UP NEXT
Hartford welcomes rival Central Connecticut to Fiondella Field for its final regular season home game on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch between the Hawks and Blue Devils is scheduled for 1 p.m. The meeting between Hartford and CCSU is the second of the season with the Hawks scoring a 4-3 win over the Blue Devils back on March 11 in New Britain.