THE BASICS:
 
RESULTS: No. 1 Hartford 9, No. 4 Stony Brook 4
RECORDS: Hartford (26-29, 16-8 AE) Stony Brook (32-25, 12-12 AE)
LOCATION: Mahaney Diamond (Orono, Maine)
 
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THE LEAD:
The top-seeded and America East Regular-Season Champion University of Hartford baseball team made history on Saturday, knocking off Stony Brook, 9-4, in the Championship Game in Orono, Maine. Junior pitcher Billy DeVito was clutch in leading the Hawks to the program's first-ever America East Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth, striking out four Seawolves while allowing just two runs in a career-high seven innings. 

Sophomore Zachary Ardito had an outstanding outing at the plate, recording three hits, a career-high four RBI and a pair of runs for the Hawks, who will learn their NCAA Tournament matchup on Monday at 12 p.m. 
 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hawks capitalized on an early Seawolves' error to take a 1-0 advantage in the opening frame. Ardito, who reached on a one-out infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error committed by Stony Brook's shortstop, came home later in the inning when junior Ashton Bardzell laced an RBI double down the right-field line.
• Behind stellar pitching fom DiVito and outstanding defensive plays in the field, the Hawks doubled their lead to 2-0 in the fifth. Freshman John Thrasher legged out a one-out, infield single before stealing second in the next at-bat. Senior Nick Campana would make the most of the runner in scoring position, singling through the right side to bring home Thrasher and extend Hartford's lead.
• The Seawolves threatened in the seventh on a one-out triple from Michael Wilson, but a great defensive stand from the Hawks got them out of the jam. After a fly out to the left, Campana sent a strike to the plate and sophomore Robert Carmody applied the tag to get Wilson out and complete the double play.
• A big seventh inning featuring five runs on five hits allowed Hartford to blow the game open with two outs in the frame. Highlighting that rally was Ardito, who laced a two-run double to cushion the Hawks' advantage to 7-0.
• The Seawolves managed to break through Hartford's defense in the eighth, scoring a pair of runs on an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly to cut their deficit to five at 7-2. Hartford wasted little time in getting those runs back, though, as blasted his third hit of the game — blasting a two-run double off the left field wall — to put the Hawks back up by seven (9-2).
• Stony Brook put up a fight in the ninth with a two-run homer to left field, but senior Seth Pinkerton recorded the final two outs to secure the 9-4 victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS AND HIGHLIGHTS

• After picking up their first Regular-Season America East Championship last weekend, the Hawks won their first Tournament Title and NCAA Tournament berth.
• Freshman Drew DeMartino was named the Most Outstanding Player of the America East Tournament after his heroics in yesterday's game — a walk-off victory against UMass Lowell.
• DeMartino, sophomore Jackson Olson, freshman Nicholas Dombkowski, and DeVito were each named to the All-Tournament Team for their performances this weekend.
• Senior Sebastion DeMauro was awarded the America East Elite 18 Award, which is granted to the student-athlete with the highest GPA competing in the Championship Game.

 
NEXT ON TAP:
The University of Hartford Department of Athletics will host an NCAA Tournament Selection Show watch party on Monday, May 28, at noon at World of Beer in West Hartford, Conn. Fans can also catch the selection show on ESPNU at noon.