THE BASICS:
 
RESULTS:  Maine 2, Hartford 1
LOCATION:  LeLacheur Park (Lowell, Mass.)
RECORDS:  Hartford (20-30, 8-13 America East), Maine (22-28, 8-12 AE)
W:  Jeff Gelinas (1-3) L: John LaRossa (3-4)
 
 
THE LEAD: 
For the second time in a day, the University of Hartford baseball team felt the sting of a walk-off defeat, falling 2-1 to Maine in the 11^th inning at LeLacheur Park on Wednesday. With the loss the Hawks were eliminated from the America East Championship Tournament.
 
Left fielder Tyler Schwanz played the hero for the Black Bears, pulling a single down the left field line to plate the game-winning run. Schwanz accounted for both of Maine's RBI while junior shortstop Ben Bengtson drove in Hartford's run.
 
Hartford's offense, which had been one of the best in the conference during the regular season, couldn't get going against Maine starting pitcher Justin Courtney, who allowed one run in eight innings of work. Senior starter Brian Stepniak helped the Hawks keep pace, throwing 5.2 innings of one-run ball before turning it over to Hartford's bullpen.
 
The Hawks played 21 innings in two tournament games on Wednesday, having gone 10 in their opener against Stony Brook. Hartford allowed 6 total runs in those two games.
 
Wednesday marked the final time in a Hawks' uniform for five seniors: David Drouin, John LaRossa, David MacKinnon, Dalton Ruch and Stepniak.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Bears struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Schwanz.
• Ruch led off the eighth inning with a double and tied the game at 1-1 when Bengtson ripped a two-out RBI single through the left side.
• Maine walked off in the 11^th on an RBI single down the left field line by Schwanz.

 
 
BY THE NUMBERS:

• Hartford starting pitcher Brian Stepniak went 5.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out four.
• It was Stepniak's longest outing since throwing 7.0 innings against Stony Brook on April 22, and the fewest runs he had allowed since holding Maine scoreless through seven innings on April 8.
• Maine starting pitcher Justin Courtney threw 136 pitches in eight innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out eighth.
• Hartford left 11 runners on base in the game, Maine stranded 14.