Kevin Tise
Steve McLaughlin
11
Winner Univ. of Hartford HARTFORD 6-1
9
Central Connecticut CCSU 4-3
Winner
Univ. of Hartford HARTFORD
6-1
11
Final
9
Central Connecticut CCSU
4-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Univ. of Hartford HARTFORD 1 1 1 0 1 4 3 0 0 11 13 1
Central Connecticut CCSU 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 3 0 9 12 2

W: Pinkerton, Seth (1-0) L: GALLAGHER (0-1) S: LaRossa, John (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Bats Come Alive as Hawks Down Blue Devils 11-9 in New Britain

THE BASICS:

RESULT: Hartford 11, CCSU 9
LOCATION: CCSU Baseball Field (New Britain, Conn.)
RECORDS: Hartford (6-1); CCSU (4-3)

THE LEAD:
A big day for the Hartford baseball team's bats brought the Hawks their sixth win of the season, an 11-9 offensive outburst over in-state rival Central Connecticut on Wednesday afternoon in New Britain, Conn.

Chris Sullivan, making the first start of his Hawks career, drove in three runs, and Aaron Wilson chipped in two hits, an RBI and two walks on the day. CCSU was carried by home runs from Tyler Coleman and Andrew Hinckley.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • As has been the story for the Hawks in the young season, Hartford jetted out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first to secure the lead early. After back-to-back singles by David MacKinnon and Chris DelDebbio, Ben Bengtson came up with an infield RBI single to plate a run.
  • Hartford picked up another run in the second after CCSU hurler Mike Appel threw three straight walks and then drilled MacKinnon to bring in the runner from third.
  • After a walk by Ostberg to start the third inning, Bengtson ripped a double into the gap to put two men in scoring position for Hartford. Sullivan stepped up and drove in a run on an RBI groundout to push the Hawks lead to 3-0.
  • The pitching combination of John Mormile, Justin Robarge, and Justin Cashman quieted the Blue Devil bats early in the contest, holding CCSU to just one hit through three frames. Each hurler went an inning in his appearance.
  • Hartford got into some trouble after CCSU hit a two-run homer off of Kevin Tise in the fourth. The Blue Devils put men on second and third with just one away, but a heads-up play by MacKinnon helped prevent another run from coming in. The junior first baseman gunned down the runner attempting to score from third, and Tise scooped up a bunt attempt in the next at bat to end the inning with Hartford still in front 3-2.
  • The Hawks answered with a run in the top of the fifth. A single by DelDebbio, a HBP for Ostberg and a walk for Bengston loaded the bases with no outs, and Sullivan came through with a deep sac fly to left to add a run for the Hawks. Hartford led 4-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
  • CCSU tied the game up at four after a two-run home run to left center by Tyler Coleman closed the gap for the Blue Devils. Hayden Manning took the mound to start the inning, but the freshman did not record an out and was replaced by Billy Devito. A walk and a double were followed by a passed ball with one away that pulled CCSU out front 5-4, and an RBI single by Martinez pushed across another run to make it 6-4. Martinez was tagged out at second trying to extend the hit into two bases.
  • Harford again answered the Blue Devils with back-to-back doubles to the warning track from Walker and pinch-hitter Dalton Ruch to make it a 6-5 game in the sixth. Wilson ripped a grounder down the third base line for an RBI double and the Hawks immediately tied it right back up at six apiece. Hartford plated two more on an RBI single by Chris Sullivan, with a throwing error by CCSU bringing in the second run. Hartford finished the inning up 8-6.
  • Jacob Mellin earned his first appearance of the season, and worked his way out of a jam. After allowing two singles to lead off the inning, Mellin came back to retire the side and keep the Hawks up through six innings.
  • The Hawks picked up a crucial insurance run in the seventh when Tom Curtin balked on the mound to bring in Billy Walker from third base. Ostberg roped an RBI single to right to add to the lead and make it a 10-6 game, and a rundown at first base dragged in another run from third to make it an 11-6 lead.
  • Seth Pinkerton put together a 1-2-3 seventh inning for the Hawks, but CCSU would not go quietly. The Blue Devils got a run back on an error by Ward and added a sac fly to bring the score to 11-8 in the eighth off of Sam McKay. McKay then walked a run in to make it 11-9, and the Hawks called on John LaRossa to try and get out of the jam. A clutch 6-5-3 double play started by a nice snag by Bengston at short got the Hawks out of trouble in the eighth with the lead still intact.
  • LaRossa came back out for the save in the ninth and struck out the side, bringing Hartford to an 11-9 victory. Pinkerton, who came on in the seventh, earned the win for the Hawks.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
  • After today's game, the Hawks have scored at least one run in the first inning in five-straight performances. Today, Hartford scored a run in each of the first three innings, and scored in six of seven innings to open the game.
  • Chris Sullivan came through in a big way for the Hawks in his first career start. The freshman third baseman drove in three runs on an RBI groundout, a sac fly, and an RBI single to give the Hawks a big boost on offense.
  • Hartford drew eight walks in today's performance, the most in a game this season and the most since the Hawks drew nine freebies against Sacred Heart in April last season.
  • The Hawks currently hold a plus-8 run differential, outscoring opponents 42-34 through seven games.
  • No pitcher went more than 1 2/3 innings, as the Hawks used 10 total pitchers to put together an entire nine inning performance.

NEXT UP:
The Hawks fly out to California to take on UC-Santa Barbara for a three-game weekend series. Friday's and Saturday's games will start at 2 p.m., and the rubber match will take place at 1 p.m on Sunday. Be sure to check out @HartfordBASE on Twitter for in-game updates, and follow our Hartford Hawks Snapchat account at Hartford_Hawks.
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