THE BASICS:

SERIES INFORMATION: Hartford Hawks (7-17, 3-3 AE) vs. UAlbany Great Danes (9-12, 1-5 AE)
TIME: Saturday, April 6- 12:00 P.M. (Doubleheader) and Sunday, April 7- 12:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Varsity Field (West Hartford, Conn.)
COVERAGE: Live Stats | Twitter: @HartfordBASE
 
FIRST PITCH
The University of Hartford baseball team continues its 2018 #AEBase slate with a trip to UAlbany for a weekend series.

SCOUTING UAlbany                                                                  
The Great Danes have opened up their 2018 season with a 9-12 record, including a 1-5 start in the America East.
 
All-TIME vs. UAlbany
The Great Danes hold a slight advantage in the all-time series, 35-33. However, the Hawks have bested UAlbany in five of the last eight conference matchups.  
 
LAST TIME OUT
A five-run eighth inning fueled the University of Hartford baseball team's comeback bid against Quinnipiac, as the Hawks took a 12-11 decision in West Hartford on Thursday afternoon.
 
#AEBASE AWARDS
Freshman Nicholas Dombkowski posted a stellar performance on the mound during the Hawks, 1-0 victory of Maine on March 24, to earn America East Co-Pitcher and Rookie of the Week. The native of West Springfield, Mass., threw eight shutout innings, striking out six Black Bears and only giving up five hits for his first career victory.
 
Sophomore Nathan Florence followed that up with a Pitcher of the Week performance of his own, throwing seven shutout innings, striking out a career-high twelve while only giving up four hits in the Hawks 2-1 victory over CCSU on March 31.


BARDZELL BOMB
Bardzell tied a career-high two home runs and four RBIs in the Hawks 13-11 win over Fairfield on February 28th. Bardzell leads the Hawks in Home runs (6), and RBIs (16) while sitting second in the America East in home runs.
 
HOT BAT
Senior Nick Campana currently sits fifth in the America East with a .351 batting average, ripping seven doubles and driving in 13 runs.  
 
POWERFUL PITCHING
The Hawks pitching staff currently sits atop the America East with a 5.26 ERA, highlighted by junior Seth Pinkerton how ranks second in saves (5) and opposing batting average (.103), while sophomore Nathan Florence is tied for most strikeouts looking (13) and seventh in total strikeouts (32).
 
LAST SEASON
The Hawks finished last season 20-30 overall and 8-13 in the America East before falling to Maine in the America East Tournament. Then-senior first baseman David MacKinnon, junior shortstop Ben Bengtson, and Bardzell were all named to the America East All-Conference First Team. It marked the second consecutive First Team selection for MacKinnon and Bengtson and the first for Bardzell.
 
TRIO OF CAPTAINS
In the fall, the team voted senior third baseman TJ Ward, redshirt-junior pitcher Jake Regula and Bardzell as the Hawks' team captains for the 2018 season. Ward, who will be serving his second season as team captain, started 38 games as a junior, ranking third on the team in RBI (32) and fifth in home runs (5). Regula appeared in 19 games on the hill for the Hawks this past season, making three starts and recording a pair of saves. Bardzell started 49 games in his sophomore campaign, leading the America East in RBIs (43), batting average (.343) and slugging percentage (.619), while lead the team in doubles (13), triples (5) and home runs (9) on his way to earning America East First Team All-Conference honors.
 
THE SHOW
A trio of Hawks was selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft in June. Hawks catcher Erik Ostberg was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 13th round, while shortstop Ben Bengtson went to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round and the first baseman David MacKinnon was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 32nd round. Hartford now has 17 players drafted in program history and seven during head coach Justin Blood's tenure.
 
ALL-TIME WINNER
With the Hawks 5-3 victory over Maine on Friday, March 23, head coach Justin Blood became the all-time winningest coach in program history, passing the late Roger Wickman with 147 wins.
 
STAFF STRUCTURE
The majority Blood's coaching staff remains the same for the 2018 campaign, but the group has had some minor adjustments since last season. Associate head coach Steve Malinowski, who has been on Blood's staff since his arrival in Hartford, returns for his seventh season while assistant coach Elliot Glynn returns for his fourth season in the Hartford dugout.
 
Joining the staff this season is volunteer assistant coach Ethan Newton, who comes to Hartford from Allegany College where he served as the associate head coach for two seasons. Dr. David Miller also joins the Hawks this season as the Director of Baseball Analytics.
 
DUNKIN' DONUTS PARK   
The Hawks will host two more games inside Dunkin' Donuts Park, home of the Colorado Rockies AA affiliate Hartford Yard Goats. The Hawks will host UMass on Tuesday, May 1, and Central Connecticut on Wednesday, May 16. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.
 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks will return home on Tuesday afternoon, as they welcome back Quinnipiac to Fiondella Field for a 3 p.m. tilt.