WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –Hartford baseball bounced back from losing game one on Friday, taking game two, 7-3, and three, 5-3, for the America East series victory Saturday afternoon.
 
Sophomore finished the afternoon with three RBI,as the Hawks improve to 16-28 overall and 9-9 in the America East. Redshirt-junior Oscar Marchena went 3-6 with a double, as the River Hawks fall to 12-33 on the season and 7-11 in conference play. 
 
GAME ONE: HARTFORD 7 UMASS LOWELL 3    
With two outs in the opening inning, Bardzell got the scoring started in a big way, swatting a solo shot over the left field fence to give the Hawks the early 1-0 lead.
 
The River Hawks tied the score in the top of the second before the Hawks took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore John Thrasher stepped in with runners on the corners and laced a single to left field, scoring redshirt-sophomore Bryce Ramsay to put Hartford back on top 2-1.
 
After UMass Lowell took its first lead of the game in the top of the fourth (3-2), the Hawks erupted for four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Drew DeMartino tied things up as he took advantage of a wild pitch to score from third. Olson wrapped up the scoring, taking advantage of a bases loaded situation, as he reached on a fielder's choice scoring Ramsay from third. Junior Robert Carmody also scored on the play on a throwing error by the second baseman, giving Hartford a 6-3 lead.
 
The Hawks tacked on one more run in the bottom of the seventh, as junior Zachary Ardito knocked a double down the left field line, scoring Bardzell from second. Hartford held the River Hawks scoreless the rest of the way, taking game one, 7-3.
 
GAME TWO: HARTFORD 5 UMASS LOWELL 3
After a quiet opening three innings, Hartford scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth. With DeMartino at second base, Thrasher laced a single to center field, making the score 1-0. The Hawks added to its lead later in the inning, as the Hawks took advantage of a throwing error by the second basemen to keep the inning alive and score Thrasher for the 2-0 lead.
 
Hartford continued to roll in the next inning loading the bases with one out. Thrasher scored the first run of the inning, looping a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Ardito from third base. Junior Jackson Olson they took care of the other two runners, hitting a double to left center field, plating senior Drew Holtgrieve and Ramsay, giving the Hawks the 5-0 lead.
 
UMass Lowell scored three runs in the top of the seventh, but redshirt-senior Sebastian DiMauro combined with junior Drew Farkas to finish off the victory, as Hartford wrapped up its fourth America East series of the season, 5-3.
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• Senior Billy DeVito (3-3) earned the win in game one, allowing three runs over seven innings, scattering three hits and striking out seven
• With his home run in game one, Bardzell now leads the America East with eight on the season
• Freshman Will Nowak tallied his team-leading fifth save of the season, holding UMass Lowell hitless over the final three innings of game one
• DiMauro (3-3) pitched 6.1 innings in game two, throwing a career-high eight strikeouts and allowing two runs on six hits

 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford returns to Dunkin' Donuts Park for its second game of the year on Tuesday against Central Connecticut. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 860-246-GOAT or by clicking here.