BALTIMORE, Md.. –Hartford baseball split day one of the team's three-game series with UMBC, falling in game one, 10-8, before taking game two, 7-4, in America East action Saturday night. .
 
Senior Ashton Bardzell hit a home run in each game,as the Hawks improve to 13-21 overall and 7-4 in America East play. Junior Colin Casey finished with two RBI and three runs scored, as the Retrievers improve to 18-18 on the season and 4-10 in conference play. 
 
GAME ONE: UMBC 10  HARTFORD 8   
Hartford wasted little time staking an advantage in game one, scoring the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. With junior Zachary Ardito on first base, senior Chris Sullivan doubled down the right field line, bringing Ardito all the way around from first to take the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Hawks added on to their lead in the second inning, as sophomore Robert Carmody grounded out to the third basemen, plating sophomore Drew DeMartino from third base, increasing Hartford's advantage to two (2-0).
 
Hartford made it three innings in a row to start the game with a run scored, as Bardzell blasted a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence, for the 3-0 lead.
 
UMBC jumped back into the game from this point forward, outscoring the Hawks 10-1 over the next five innings to take a 10-4 lead heading into the final inning.
 
The Hawks attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth, but were unable to complete the rally, as the Retrievers took game one 10-8.
 
GAME TWO: HARTFORD 7 UMBC 4
After UMBC took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, Hartford charged back into the game. The Hawks started their rally in the third inning with a RBI double by Sullivan, scoring Ardito to make the score 4-1.
 
Freshman Devin Kellogg then took advantage of a bases loaded opportunity by smashing a grand slam over the left field fence for his first career home run, giving Hartford its first lead of the game, 5-4.
 
Bardezell then hit his second home run of the night and sophomore Nicholas Dombkowski closed out the complete game, as Hartford took game two, 7-4, snatching a split heading into the final day of the weekend series.
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• Dombkowski (2-4) earned his second win of the season in game two, allowing four runs on six hits, while striking out four batter in his first complete game of the season
• With his two home runs on the night, Bardzell now leads the America East with seven home runs on the season
• Bardzell also has now registered a home run in three consecutive games for the first time in his career 
• Hartford looks for its fourth-straight America East series victory of the season tomorrow in the rubber match against the Retrievers

 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford wraps up the three-game weekend series with UMBC tomorrow. First pitch of the conference clash is set for 1 p.m.