PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Junior second baseman Aaron Wilson was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs to lead the University of Hartford baseball team to a 9-6 win over visiting Northeastern on Tuesday afternoon at Fiondella Field. Included in Wilson's performance was his second home run of the season, a two-out solo blast to right field.

As a team, Hartford (18-26) combined for 11 hits, with Wilson's three tying classmate Chris DelDebbio in leading the squad. DelDebbio also drove in two runs and scored twice. Redshirt senior right fielder Ryan Lukach joined in the multi-hit parade as he finished with a pair of hits, with the remaining three hits all coming from different players.

Included in the Hawks 11 hits were six extra bases knocks, with Wilson's home run the longest of the day. He also finished with one of five doubles, with DelDebbio leading the team in that category with a pair of two-base hits.

On the hill, Hartford relied on seven hurlers to for the victory with sophomore right handed reliever Brian Stepniak earning his second victory in three decision. Stepniak came out of the pen to pitch the fourth and fifth innings, allowing one unearned run, while scattering four hits. Freshman Kevin Tise made his second start of the season, pitching the first three innings scoreless, giving up just one hit and walking two batters. Tise also struck out a team-high three batters.

Sophomore John LaRossa and senior lefty Austin Barnes also pitched scoreless outings, each hurling one inning. LaRossa threw the sixth inning, allowing one hit and striking out one batter. Barnes came in with a runner on first and no outs in the bottom of the ninth and retired all three batters he faced in order, earning his second save of the season.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

·       Junior Aaron Wilson reached base safely every time he stepped up to the plate. After working a walk in his first at bat, Wilson scattered three hits over his next three at bats, finishing the game 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Two of Wilson's hits went for extra bases, a double and a solo home run as he finished a triple shy of the cycle.

·       Centerfielder Chris DelDebbio also finished the game with three hits, scattering those over four at bats. He also drove in two runs and scored twice. Included in DelDebbio's three hits was a pair of doubles as he propelled himself into a tie for second on the team with 10 doubles.

·       The Hawks freshman starting pitcher Kevin Tise threw three scoreless innings in his second career start. Tise faced a total of 11 batters, allowing one hit and two walks while also striking out a team-high three.

·       Sophomore reliever Brian Stepniak earned the victory on the hill for the second-straight week, entering the game in the fourth inning and pitching a pair of frames. Stepniak allowed one unearned run on four hits, while striking out one.

·       Senior lefthander Austin Barnes earned his second save of the season, entering with a runner on first and no outs in the top of the ninth inning. Barnes retired all three batters he faced in order, with the first of those a strikeout.

HOW THEY SCORED

·       Hartford began its scoring in earnest with a six-run fourth inning. Freshman designated hitter Erik Ostberg started off that inning with a double down the left field line, while classmate Ben Bengtson was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Both would get themselves into scoring position on a double steal, which allowed Wilson to drive in his first two runs of the afternoon on a single to centerfield. Wilson was then part of the next scoring play when he and senior Trey Stover scored on a double to left center from Chris DelDebbio. Sophomore first baseman David MacKinnon would record the next RBI, knocking in DelDebbio on a double to right center, the third double of the inning. MacKinnon would then score the final run two batter later on a fly ball off the bat of freshman Nick Campana.

·       The final three runs all came in different innings with the first of those scored in the sixth, thanks in part to a leadoff single from DelDebbio, his third hit of the game. After beating out the infield grounder, DelDebbio advanced around the bases on a pair of wild pitched, setting up senior Ryan Lukach who single to right allowing DelDebbio to score easily.

·       Aaron Wilson would provide the only swing of the bat needed to score the eight run as he lifted the fourth pitch he saw over the fence in right field.

·       The Hawks final run came in the eighth inning, again made possible thanks to a flurry of wild pitches. Lukach, who originally singled to reach base was able to take second on the same play after the right fielder attempted a sliding catch. Lukach would then take advantage of two-straight wild pitches, with the second allowing him to cross the plate.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       The three RBI outing for Aaron Wilson is a season-high and his third multi-RBI game of the season. The three hits for the junior infielder is his third three-hit game of the year and his sixth multi-hit game of the season.

·       The home run for Wilson is his career and the season with his initial home run also coming at home as part of a three-game series against UMass Lowell.

·       The three hits for junior Chris DelDebbio is the second-straight game he has finished with three hits and the fifth-straight game he has had two or more. It is also the second-straight game that he has hit at least one double and the third time in that five-game stretch.

·       Sophomore reliever Brian Stepniak earned his second win of the season in his second-straight appearance out of the bullpen. Stepniak's first win came last week in a road victory at Quinnipiac.

·       The save for senior Austin Barnes is his second of the season with his first also coming in last week's road win at Quinnipiac.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·       Pitchers Brian Stepniak and Austin Barnes combined for the win and save for the second-straight midweek game.

·       Junior second baseman Aaron Wilson was a perfect 3-for-3, with 3 RBI, at the plate, including his second home run of his career.

·       Junior centerfielder Chris DelDebbio also finished with three hits, his fifth-straight multi-hit game, this one including a pair of doubles.

·       Freshman starting pitcher Kevin Tise threw three scoreless innings to open up the game for Hartford.

UP NEXT
Hartford will play its second-straight weekend on the road when they travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass. for a two-game non-league series with Boston College. The Hawks and Eagles first match-up will come on Saturday, May 9 with a 4 p.m. first pitch scheduled. On Sunday, Hartford and BC will conclude the two-game series with a 12 p.m. first pitch. Both games will take place at Pellagrini Diamond at Shea Field.