SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Hartford had the go-ahead run come to the plate in the top of the ninth, but could not complete the rally, as the Hawks fell to UC Santa Barbara, 6-4, Saturday evening.
 
Senior Ashton Bardzell hit Hartford's first home run of the season, as the Hawks fell to 0-2 on the year. Thomas Rowan went 2-5 with two RBI, as the Gauchos improves to 4-2 on the season. 
 
UC SANTA BARBARA 6 HARTFORD 4
After falling behind by one run, Bardzell put the Hawks back on top in the top of the fourth, hitting a two-run home run, plating Chris Sullivan for the 2-1 lead. UC Santa Barbara tied the game in the bottom half of the inning before Hartford answered again, as sophomore John Thrasher slapped a single to left field, bringing junior Nik Pagan in from second and putting the Hawks back in front 3-2.
 
The Gauchos pulled ahead again, scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth, for the 6-3 advantage. Hartford mounted a two-out rally in the top of the ninth, started by a Thrasher single up the middle. After Thrasher stole second base, junior Bryce Walker walked to put runners at first and second. Sullivan then singled up the middle, bringing Thrasher home and advancing Walker to third. UC Santa Barbara, however, ended the rally as Bardzell struck out swinging to end the game. 
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• Thrasher finished the game going 3-4 with a double, a run score and a RBI

• Senior Billy DeVito pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits and struck out five but did not factor into the decision
• Bardzell led the Hawks with two RBI, all coming from his two-run home run in the fourth inning
• For the second game in a row, Pagan went 2-4 with a run scored. He has been impressive in his first two games for the Hawks, batting .500 with four hits

 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford wraps up its three-game series with Santa Barbara tomorrow. First pitch is 4 p.m.