STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Junior Chris DelDebbio was one of three Hawks who went yard, leading the University of Hartford baseball team with four hits as the Hawks split a doubleheader at Stony Brook on Saturday. Hartford took the opening game by a 10-9 margin before falling in the nightcap 4-3.

DelDebbio's four hits led a total of 20 hits for Hartford in the doubleheader with classmate Aaron Wilson and senior Ryan Lukach joining him in leading the squad as each finished with three hits. Lukach and sophomore David MacKinnon got in on the long ball action as each added to the Hawks three total home runs.

DelDebbio, Lukach, Wilson and MacKinnon all led the team with a pair of RBI. Both of DelDebbio's RBI came on his fourth home run of the season which came in the second game and at the time broke a 1-1 stalemate. MacKinnon's two RBI also came on home runs as he drove in both in the sixth inning of the first game, giving Hartford a 9-3 lead at the time. Both of Wilson's RBI also came in the opening game as he drove in runs in the third and fifth innings, with the second providing a 6-1 lead.

Earning the victory in the opener was junior starter Kyle Gauthier, his third win in nine total decisions. Gauthier pitched 5.2 innings and allowed six runs, three earned, on nine hits while striking out four batters. Junior reliever Jeremy Charles was the last of four Hawks pitchers used in the first game, with his one inning of work leading to his second save of the season. Suffering the loss in the second game was junior starter Sam McKay who pitched a complete game, allowing four runs, two earned, on three hits and three walks. In 6.2 innings of work, McKay also struck out five batters.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

·       After scoring a single run in the first inning, the Hawks broke open the game with a five-run third inning that ended with the Hawks taking a 6-1 lead. Three hits in the first inning led to the Hawks manufacturing a run in the top of the opening frame. Senior shortstop Trey Stover led off the game with a bunt single before scoring on the third single of the inning which came from classmate Ryan Lukach.

·       Lukach also led off the third inning rally when he began the offense with a one out single to right field as he opened up the game going 2-for-2 at the plate. He would eventually score the first run as he crossed the plate on an error at short off the bat of freshman Ben Bengtson.

·       Overall, Hartford finished with 13 hits with two of those hits going for extra bases. The longest hit of the day came off the pine of sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon as he drilled his first collegiate home run over the fence in left field.  

·       Hartford used a total of four pitchers on the hill with starter Kyle Gauthier earning his third victory and junior reliever Jeremy Charles scoring his second save of the season. Included in Gauthier's 5.2 innings of work was a string of eight straight outs that helped his squad build a 6-1 lead they would never look back from. Gauthier also finished the game with a staff-high four strikeouts.

·       The Hawks capitalized on the base paths in the opening game as they finished a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts. Leading the way was freshman designated hitter Erik Ostberg who stole a pair of bases. Classmate Ben Bengtson and sophomore Aaron Wilson also successfully swiped bases.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

·       All three of Hartford's runs in the second game came on the long ball. The first home run of the game came from senior Ryan Lukach who led off the second inning with his sixth home run of the season, drilling this one over the fence in left field.

·       With the game tied at one in the fifth, the Hawks began a two-out rally with a walk that was issued to senior Trey Stover. Junior centerfielder Chris DelDebbio followed that by making the Seawolves pay when he sailed his fourth home run of the year over the fence in left driving in a pair of runs.

·       The two home runs were part of three total extra base hits with the third a double from junior catcher Joe Roberti. Overall, the Hawks finished with seven hits while holding Stony Brook to just three.

·       On the hill, Hartford got its third complete game of the season, all of which have come from junior starter Sam McKay, who suffered his sixth loss of the season. Over 6.2 innings of work, McKay gave up four runs, two of which were earned, on three hits and three walks. He also struck out five, the most by any Hartford pitcher in the doubleheader.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Combined for the doubleheader, the Hawks outhit the Seawolves 20-17. Included in those 20 hits were five extra base hits, three of which were home runs.

·       One of those home runs was a career first and that came from sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon as he drove in two runs that led to a 9-3 lead at the time.

·       Another of those home runs resulted in a team-leading sixth of the season for senior Ryan Lukach who also extended his team and conference lead in RBI with two total over the doubleheader.

·       Hartford finished with nine total strikeouts on the hill, with all nine coming from the Hawks starting pitchers – four from Kyle Gauthier and five from Sam McKay.

·       Junior starter Sam McKay pitched the Hawks third complete game of the season. All three have come from McKay.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       A pair of Hawks drilled two-run home runs in the doubleheader, including the first career long ball for sophomore David MacKinnon.

·       Junior Chris DelDebbio also went yard with a two-run home run that provided a 3-1 lead at the time in game two.

·       Redshirt senior Ryan Lukach drove in two runs on the day, one of which came on his team-leading sixth home run of the season.

·       Junior reliever Jeremy Charles earned his second save and the Hawks sixth total for the year.

UP NEXT
Hartford and Stony Brook will conclude the three-game conference series with a single game scheduled for a 12 p.m. start at Joe Nathan Field on Sunday afternoon.