LOWELL, Mass. – The University of Hartford baseball team dropped a 10-2 decision to the second-seeded UMBC Retrievers in an elimination game in the 2015 America East Championship. The Hawks close out the 2015 season with a 23-31 overall record, the second-straight 20-plus win season, which is the first time since 1992-94 the Hawks have finished with 20 or more wins.

The Hawks finished the season finale with six total hits, led by junior catcher Joe Roberti and senior Ryan Lukach who each finished with two hits. Roberti added one of three extra-base knocks for the Hawks, a double to left center. Freshmen Nick Campana and Erik Ostberg each recorded an RBI in the game with Campana driving in a run on a triple to left center and Ostberg on an infield groundout.

Junior relief pitcher Jeremy Charles came out of the bullpen to lead the Hawks pitching staff, throwing a career-high five innings. Charles gave up a total of four hits and walked three batters but held the Retrievers scoreless over his five-inning stretch. He also struck out a career-high six batters. Suffering the loss for Hartford was junior starter Brian Murphy who was tagged for seven runs, all unearned, in one-plus inning of work.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       The Hawks combined for a total of six hits with three of those knocks going for extra bases. The longest hit of the day came from freshman left fielder Nick Campana who wheeled out a triple that careened off the wall in left center. Junior's Joe Roberti and Chris DelDebbio each finished with a double.

·       Hartford's six hits came from four different players with Roberti and senior Ryan Lukach leading the way with a pair of hits each. Both finished with a single and a double.

·       Both of Hartford's RBIs came from its freshman class with Campana and Erik Ostberg each driving in runs. Campana's RBI was his 20th of the season which ties him with Ben Bengtson for the most among the rookie class.

·       Suffering the loss on the hill for Hartford was junior starter Brian Murphy who in one-plus inning of work allowed seven runs, all unearned, on six hits and three walks.

·       Relief pitcher Jeremy Charles came out of the bullpen to hold the Retrievers scoreless over a five-inning stretch, a career-long outing for the junior righty. Charles finished his afternoon giving up four hits and walking three batters while striking out a career-best six.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       Both of the Hawks runs came in the fourth inning with a pair of freshmen earning the RBI. Senior right fielder Ryan Lukach began the rally with a one out single to right center. He was able to score on the next at bat as rookie left fielder Nick Campana drilled his second triple of the season off the wall in left center. Campana was rewarded on the next at bat thanks to an infield groundout off the bat of Erik Ostberg.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       Hartford closes out the 2015 season with 23 wins, the second-straight season the Hawks have finished with 20 or more wins. The last time Hartford finished with back-to-back 20-win seasons was in 1992-94.

·       Freshman Nick Campana drove in one of the Hawks two runs, giving him 20 total for the season, tying him with Ben Bengtson for the most among the freshmen class in 2015.

·       Junior relief pitcher Jeremy Charles set a pair of career-highs in the season finale. His first career-best number came in the length of his outing, five innings, while he struck out a career-high six batters.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Junior relief pitcher Jeremy Charles threw a career-high five innings without allowing a run, while striking out a career-best six.

·       Freshmen Nick Campana and Erik Ostberg were responsible for driving in the Hawks two runs.

·       The Hawks close out 2015 with a 23-31 overall record, their second-straight season with 20-plus wins.