WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –In a battle of the top two teams in the America East, Hartford baseball split with Stony Brook, taking game one 9-5 and falling in game two 7-5, Saturday afternoon at Fiondella Field.
 
Senior Ashton Bardzell hit his team-leading third home run of the season in game two, as the Hawks improved to 10-15 overall and 5-3 in conference play. Junior Michael Wilson recorded a team-high three RBI on the day, as the Seawolves improve to 16-9 on the year and 7-1 in the America East. 
 
GAME ONE: HARTFORD 9 STONY BROOK 5  
With the score tied at three in the top of the fourth, Stony Brook reclaimed the lead with two runs. The Seawolves scored their first run on a RBI double by senior Dylan Resk, plating freshman Brad Hipsley. Resk then came around to score on the RBI single from junior Nick Grande for the 5-3 lead.
 
Hartford tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of their own, beginning with a RBI triple by Bardzell, bringing in junior Zachary Ardito from third. Junior Nik Pagan then knotted the score at five, grounding out to first base, scoring Bardzell.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, senior John Thrasher brought in the eventual game-winning run as he came to the plate with two runners on. Thrasher then slashed a double down the left field line, plating freshman Donnie Cohoon and giving the Hawks the 6-5 lead.
 
Hartford went on to score three more runs and hold Stony Brook hitless over the final three innings, and junior Drew Farkas tallied his first save of the season, as the Hawks scored the 9-5 win to open the weekend series.
 
GAME TWO: STONY BROOK 7 HARTFORD 5
In game two, Stony Brook stormed out to a six-run lead, while holding the Hawks scoreless through five. Junior pitcher, Brian Herrmann, allowed only hit through five innings to keep the Hartford bat at bay.
 
The Hawks broke through in the sixth inning, scoring five runs to close within one, 6-5. Bardzell highlighted the inning, blasting a three-run bomb over the right field fence. 
 
The Seawolves, however would add one insurance run in the top of the seventh and junior Sam Turcotte earned his second save of the season ,pitching a scoreless final inning and giving Stony Brook the 7-5 win.
 
 NEWS AND NOTES

• Senior Billy DeVito (2-1) earned the win in game one, allowing five runs on eight hits and striking out six in six innings of work
• Farkas earned his second save of his career, allowing no runs or hits in three innings of work in game one
• Ardito finished the day  4-6 with a double, a triple, three RBI and two runs scored. He is tied with senior Chris Sullivan for the team lead in hits (29)

• After both hitting triples in game one, Bardzell and Ardito are tied for the America East lead in the category with four

 
 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford wraps up the three-game set with Stony Brook tomorrow at Fiondella Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.