SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Freshman designated hitter Erik Ostberg led the University of Hartford baseball team with three RBI as the Hawks shutout Bryant 9-0 in its final regular season midweek game. Joining Ostberg in leading the offense was sophomore David MacKinnon and rookie Nick Campana who each finished with a pair of RBI. MacKinnon finished the game 2-of-4 at the plate while also scoring three times.
MacKinnon's two hits led the Hawks bats, as he was joined by freshman TJ Ward and junior Chris DelDebbio who also each added a pair of base knocks. Overall, Hartford finished with 12 hits with all nine players in the batting order contributing at least one.
Defensively, the Hawks pitching staff held Bryant to just three hits, a team that entered the game averaging more than 10 hits per game. Earning the victory on the mound was freshman Collin Ferguson, his first collegiate decision. Ferguson pitched a pair of middle innings, not allowing a hit, while facing his minimum of six batters.
Sophomore Brian Stepniak started for the Hawks and threw the first four innings. The right hander did not allow a run, facing 15 total batters. Overall, Stepniak allowed two hits and struck out two batters, but did not issue a free pass.
Joining Stepniak and Ferguson in completing the Hawks were rookies Jake Regula and John LaRossa and junior closer Austin Barnes. All three pitched one full inning with Regula and LaRossa not allowing a hitter, each facing the minimum of three batters. Barnes allowed one hit in the ninth inning, but stranded that runner on base. Overall, the Hawks five pitcher staff did not give up a walk and struck out three batters.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
· Hartford held one of the hottest hitting teams in New England to just three hits, posting the third shutout of the season, a 9-0 rout of the Bryant Bulldogs. Bryant entered the game averaging more than 10 hits per game.
· Freshman Erik Ostberg drove in a team-best and career-high three runs as he finished the game 1-of-4 at the plate. His first two RBI came in a four-run seventh inning as he drove in senior Ryan Lukach and sophomore David MacKinnon on a single up the middle. His final RBI came in the ninth on an infield groundout that allowed Lukach to score.
· MacKinnon and freshman Nick Campana each knocked in two runs to join Ostberg in leading the team. Both of MacKinnon's RBI came in the seventh inning, while Campana split his between the sixth and ninth innings.
· Overall, Hartford finished with 12 hits with all nine batters in the lineup contributing at least one. A trio of batters all led the way with two hits apiece – MacKinnon, freshman TJ Ward and junior Chris DelDebbio.
· Earning his first collegiate victory was freshman Collin Ferguson who threw a pair of perfect middle relief innings. Ferguson faced just six batters in the fifth and sixth innings and did not allow a hit, while striking out one.
· Two other freshman hurlers came out of the bullpen and did not allow a hit against the Bulldogs. Jake Regula and John LaRossa each threw one inning, the seventh and eighth, respectively, and did not allow anyone to reach base. Overall, the Hawks five member pitching staff did not give up a walk.
HOW THEY SCORED
· Hartford broke the stalemate in the sixth inning with a single run thanks to the first of two RBI from freshman Nick Campana. Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon led off the frame with an infield single. After swiping second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, MacKinnon was able to score thanks to Campana sacrificing himself with a fly ball to centerfield.
· The Hawks added four more runs in the seventh inning with a pair of RBI each from MacKinnon and Erik Ostberg. After the first two batters of the inning resulted in outs, the Hawk began a rally that started with a Bulldogs miscue as Trey Stover reached safely on a wild pitch after being struck out. Chris DelDebbio followed that with a single through the left side that put a pair of runners on. MacKinnon then drilled his second-straight hit down the left field line which allowed both Stover and DelDebbio to score. Ryan Lukach and Campana each followed by working a free pass, which brought Ostberg to the plate. Ostberg then drilled his only hit of the game up the middle, allowing MacKinnon and Lukach to score.
· Hartford broke the game open in the ninth when they added four more runs to the tally, thanks in part to a Bryant error. DelDebbio led off the inning with an infield single, which was followed by a walk issued to MacKinnon. Lukach came to the plate with a pair of runners on and became the third-straight batter to reach safely on a fielder's choice play and a throwing error on the first baseman. That play allowed DelDebbio to score, with Campana and Ostberg following that with a single and an infield groundout that each drove in runs. Campana scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
· The win for Hartford secured its sixth 20-plus win season in the history of the program and the first time with back-to-back 20-plus win season since 1992-94 when the Hawks finsihed with 27, 20 and 22 wins, respectively.
· The shutout for the Hawks pitching staff is the third of the season, while the no walks issued by Hartford is the third time this season and the second in a nine-inning game.
· The three RBI from freshman Erik Ostberg set a season high and is his second multi RBI game of the season.
· The 12 total hits for the Hawks is the second-straight game with double digit hits and the 17th time this season. It is also just the second time this year that every spot in the batting order has finished with at least one hit with the only other game a conference contest against Maine on March 21.
· The two hits for David MacKinnon extended his team-lead in multiple hit games to 19 total. It is the 15th time he has finished with two hits, while he leads the team in that column as well as three-hit games with four.
TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)
· Freshman Erik Ostberg knocked in a career-high three runs, one of three players to drive in two or more against Bryant.
· Sophomore David MacKinnon finished with two or more hits for the third-straight game, while he has now hit safely in the last six games.
· Freshman hurler Collin Ferguson earned the first victory of his collegiate career, pitching a pair of perfect middle relief innings.
UP NEXT
Hartford will travel to Baltimore, Md. to close out the regular season with a three-game set against the UMBC Retrievers. Hartford enters the weekend needing to win at least one game of the series to guarantee a position in the upcoming America East Championship. The series will begin on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader slated for a 12 p.m. start and conclude on Saturday with a single game set for a 12 p.m. first pitch.
