THE BASICS:
 
RESULT:  Rhode Island 14, Hartford 13
LOCATION: Fiondella Field (West Hartford, Conn.)
RECORDS:  Hartford (11-19, 3-6 America East), Rhode Island (19-15, 8-3 Atlantic 10)
W:  Dom Grillo (1-1) L: Alex Moconyi (1-1) S: Tyler Barss (7)
 
 
THE LEAD: 
For the second time in as many games, the University of Hartford baseball team (11-19, 3-6 America East) nearly erased a 10-run deficit, before falling 14-13 to the University of Rhode Island on Wednesday afternoon. After spotting the Rams a 13-3 advantage on Wednesday, the Hawks rallied for nine runs in the eighth to make it 13-12. Each team tacked on a single run in the ninth, and the Hawks' comeback bid came up just short.
 
Junior third baseman TJ Ward logged just one hit for the Hawks, but Ward made it count when he connected for a grand slam as part of the team's eight-inning surge. Ward finished with a season-best six RBI on the day. Right fielder Nick Campana had three hits for Hartford, which also got a pair of hits from both second baseman Dalton Ruch and designated hitter Bryce Walker.
 
Rhode Island reliever Dom Grillo (1-1), one of nine pitchers used by the Rams, picked up his first win during the rain-soaked game. Hartford starter Alex Moconyi (1-1), who entered the game with a 0.87 ERA, took the loss after surrendering five runs in 1.1 innings of work. Right fielder Mike Foley led URI at the plate, finishing 2-for-6 with a home run and five RBI.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Rhode Island scored four runs in the first inning. Center fielder Jordan Powell led off with a single, left fielder Jesse Lee walked and both came in on a two-run single from Matt O'Neil. The Rams loaded the bases later in the inning before shortstop Laurence Hill pulled a two-run double down the left field line.
• The Rams took a 5-0 lead in the top of the second when catcher Chris Hess connected for an RBI double to the wall in center field.
• Right fielder Nick Campana got the Hawks on the board with an RBI single up the middle, plating second baseman Dalton Ruch, and Campana scored on an error later in the inning, cutting Hartford's deficit to 5-2.
• URI extended its lead to 9-2 in the fourth. The Rams pushed across four runs on one hit, with three walks and a hit batsman in the frame. Right fielder Mike Foley's two-run single to left stood as Rhode Island's lone hit.
• The Rams added three runs in the sixth on a three-run homer to left field by Foley to make it 12-2.
• Hartford third baseman TJ Ward drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to force in the Hawks' third run.
• Rhode Island made it 13-3 with a pinch-hit RBI double by sophomore Sam Ilario.
• The Hawks exploded for nine runs in the eighth inning. Ruch drove in one on a groundout, Bengtson forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk and Ward cleared the bags with a grand slam to left field. During his second at-bat of the inning, Ruch picked up two more RBI with a single through the left side, slashing URI's advantage to 13-11. First baseman David MacKinnon drew a bases-load walk to force in another run and make it a one-run game.
• URI added a necessary insurance run in the ninth when Hess walked, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error.
• Bengtson tripled to lead off Hartford's half of the ninth and scored on a groundout by Ward. The Hawks were then unable to get the tying run on base.

 
 
BY THE NUMBERS:

• Ward's home run was his third of the season, tying his total from 2016. It was also his first career grand slam.
• Campana logged his third consecutive multi-hit game and fourth in the Hawks' past five contests. During that time he has raised his average from .257 to .304.
• MacKinnon's hit streak ended at 20 games. He finished 0-for-5 with an RBI and reached on an error.
• The team's longest active hit streak belongs to Ward, at eight games. Bengtson and Ruch each have hits in Hartford's past seven games.
• Hartford drew a season-high 14 walks against Rhode Island. The previous high was eight, on three occasions.
• Wednesday marked the Hawks' 15^th game with at least 10 hits. The team is 8-7 in those games.
• It was also the eighth time Hartford has scored at least 10 runs. The Hawks are is 3-5 in those games.

 
 
 
NEXT UP:
The Hawks will continue their homestand this weekend when they host America East rival Stony Brook (17-16, 5-4 AE) for a weekend series at Fiondella Field. The three-game set will begin with a noon doubleheader on Saturday and will conclude with another noon start on Sunday.
 
Hartford trails 16-48 in the all-time series against the Sea Wolves, which dates back to 2000. The two teams met earlier this season, with Stony Brook taking two out of three on Long Island.