WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –The Hartford baseball team came up short in its home opener on Wednesday, dropping a narrow 9-8 decision to Northeastern at Fiondella Field. Senior
Ashton Bardzell went 2-for-3 to pace the Hawks' bats, recording three RBI on a home run while adding one triple.
Hartford dips to 0-9 on the season, while Northeastern, which was led by a 4-for-4 effort from Jake Farrell, moves to 6-9 with the midweek victory.
NORTHEASTERN 9, HARTFORD 8
Three early home runs helped Northeastern jump out to a 4-2 lead in the top of the third, but one swing of the bat by Bardzell quickly but the Hawks on top, as his second home run of the season — a three-run shot — made it a 5-4 Hartford lead in the home half of the frame.
A three-run fourth inning highlighted by Jake Farrell's second long ball of the game put Northeastern back in front by a 7-5 count. The Hawks would come back again, though, as sophomore
John Thrasher and senior
Chris Sullivan each drove in a run to tie things up in the bottom of the fourth, before freshman
Donnie Cohoon singled in junior
Nik Pagan, who led off the fifth with a walk, to make it an 8-7 Hartford lead.
Farrell's bat came up big again for Northeastern, as he drew the teams even on a two-out RBI single to right field in the top of the sixth. Both teams' bats would go silent for the next inning and a half, before Corey DiLoreto drew a bases-loaded, two-out walk in the eighth to bring in what proved to be the go-ahead run for the Huskies.
INSIDE THE BOX AND NOTES
- Bardzell's three RBI are a season high, while his two runs scored match a season-best effort.
- In two innings of work, junior Drew Farkas recorded three strikeouts, allowing one earned run on one hit and a walk.
- Sophomore Peter Myers matched a career high in strikeouts, also recording three in 1.1 innings.
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford remains home to host UAlbany for its America East opener. Following a doubleheader on Saturday (12 p.m.), the Hawks and Great Danes conclude the three-game set on Sunday, with a single game at 12 p.m.
