LOWELL, Mass. – Sophomore second baseman David MacKinnon was one of three Hawks who finished with three hits, leading the University of Hartford baseball team to an 11-2 win over Maine in an elimination game in the 2015 America East Championship. The Hawks advance to face the loser of Friday's second game between top-seeded Stony Brook and second-seeded UMBC. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Freshman Ben Bengtson joined MacKinnon and senior Trey Stover in scattering three hits apiece, with the rookie third basemen leading all hawks with three RBI. Mackinnon and freshman Nick Campana both dove in two runs, while four other players al drove in one.

Included in Bengtson's three hits was the longest of the day, a triple off the fence in right field in the sixth. He was rewarded two batters later in that frame when classmate TJ Ward sacrificed himself to drive him in. That run was the only time Bengtson crossed the plate, while Stover and MacKinnon each scored three times.

On the hill for Hartford, starter Sam McKay earned his fourth victor of the season, pitching all but four outs. In 7.2 innings of work, McKay gave up 12 hits, just one of which was an extra base hit, and allowed two earned runs. He also walked three and struck out four. Junior Justin Robarge was the lone reliever used by the Hawks. He retired all four batters he faced in order.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Freshman third baseman Ben Bengtson tied his career-high with three RBI to lead the Hawks. At the plate he finished 3-for-5, including a triple off the wall in right field in the sixth inning. His first RBI of the game came on an infield groundout in the first inning, while he drove in a pair on a single through the left side during a four-run rally in the fourth.

·       Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon, an All-Conference second team selection, was one of three Hawks to leads the bats as he finished a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate. Overall for the game, MacKinnon reach base safely all five times he came to the plate, hit by a pitch in his two other plate appearances. All three of MacKinnon's hits were singles, as he drove in a pair of runs on the afternoon.

·       Senior Trey Stover and Bengtson rounded out the leaders at the plate, each finishing with three hits, part of five total players who completed a multi-hit outing.

·       For the second-straight day, the Hawks received a quality start from its pitching staff with junior right hander Sam McKay pitching 7.2 innings of work, allowing just two runs, both earned. Overall, McKay allowed 12 hits, but stranded eight Black Bears on the base paths. He also picked off one runner, while catcher Billy Walker joined in that fun, also picking off a runner at first.

·       Relief pitcher Justin Robarge was the lone hurler out of the bullpen as he faced four batters and retired all four in order.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       Hartford opened up its scoring in the first inning with junior centerfielder Chris DelDebbio beginning the one-run rally with a double off the wall in right field. After sophomore David MacKinnon earned a free pass when he was hit by a pitch, DelDebbio was able to score from second thanks to a single that squeezed through the infield on the left side, with senior right fielder Ryan Lukach adding to his team-leading RBI total.

·       A leadoff single to left for MacKinnon in the third began another one-run rally for the Hawks as they took a 2-0 lead in the frame. MacKinnon advanced one base each on a sacrifice bunt from Lukach and an infield error that allowed rookie Nick Campana to reach safely. That miscue set freshman Ben Bengston up with a pair of runners in scoring position which led to his first RBI of the afternoon on an infield groundout that allowed MacKinnon to score.

·       The Hawks continued the rally with four runs in the fourth, expanding their lead to 6-0. Three different players drove in runs in the frame including Bengston who added two more to give him three for the game. Senior shortstop Trey Stover began the scoring when he drove in freshman TJ Ward whose infield single was one five total hits in the inning. Stover was rewarded in the next at bat as DelDebbio drilled his second hit of the game to left scoring Stover from second. Bengtson's two RBI came three batters later when he drove in DelDebbio and MacKinnon on a bases loaded single through the left side.

·       MacKinnon continued the run rally in the fifth, driving in a pair of runs on his third single of the game. This hit, which kept him perfect at the plate, 3-3, was drilled to center with the bases loaded, allowing Ward and Stover to score.

·       Bengtson continued his impressive outing in the sixth when he led off the inning with a triple off the wall in right field. The Hawks wouldn't leave him stranded as the rookie DH, Ward, drove in Bengtson on a one-out fly ball sacrifice to center. That run allowed the Hawks to maintain a seven run, 9-2, lead.

·       Campana kept the scoring streak alive, driving in two runs in the seventh on a two-out single to right that drove in Stover and MacKinnon. Stover began the inning with this third-straight hit, driving a single through the left side, while MacKinnon was hit by a pitch for the second time, keeping his perfect plate appearance in tact.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       With his second of three hits against Maine, sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon passed MLB MVP Jeff Bagwell ('88) and Earl Snyder ('96) for the single season record for hits. He closed out the game with 68 hits so far in 2015.

·       The 11 runs scored by Hartford is the most by any team in the first three games of the 2015 America East Championship.

·       The 16 hits for Hartford is a season-high for the team and the 20th time this season the Hawks have had 10 or more hits in a game.

·       The three hits each for sophomore David MacKinnon and Trey Stover ties the season-high for both players, while the three for Stover ties his career high, which he has done in 12 total games.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Freshman Ben Bengtson drove in a career-high three runs as he was one of three Hawks who finished with three hits to lead the team.

·       Sophomore David MacKinnon was perfect at the plate, going 3-of-3, while driving in two runs, both on a single up the middle in the fifth.

·       The Hawks got another quality start on the mound with JR Sam McKay pitching 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on 12 hits.

UP NEXT
Hartford will continue its quest for a first America East Championship on Saturday when they compete in a second elimination game at 1 p.m. The Hawks will take on the losing squad in Friday's second game between second seeded UMBC and first seeded Stony Brook.