LOWELL, Mass. – The Hartford baseball team returns to action this weekend, as the Hawks close their regular season on the road against conference foe UMass Lowell with a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. First pitch from LeLacheur Park is scheduled for noon on both days. 

HARTFORD HAWKS (16-18, 16-18 AE) at UMASS LOWELL RIVER HAWKS (17-26, 16-18 AE)

GAMES 1 & 2:
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 21 (12 p.m. and 3 p.m.)
LIVE STATS: Sidearm Stats
WATCH: America East TV

GAME 3 & 4:
DATE/TIME: Saturday, May 22 (12 p.m. & 3 p.m.)
LIVE STATS: Sidearm Stats
WATCH: America East TV

LOCATION: LeLacheur Park (Lowell, Mass.)
TWITTER: @HartfordBase | #ExpectMore | #AEBASE
 
QUICK HITS

• This weekend's series will be a pivotal one, as Hartford is fourth in the Division A standings
• The Hawks remain three games behind second-place Maine in the loss column and two behind first-place UAlbany 
• Coming into this weekend's series, Hartford and UMass Lowell are tied in the standings
• The top-two teams in the Division A standings will advance to the America East Championship, hosted by Stony Brook who clinched the top seed earlier this month
• Sophomore Derek Tenney has emerged as a powerful bat for the Hawks, tying for the America East lead with nine dingers, while ranking fifth in the conference with a .588 slugging percentage
• Senior John Thrasher has enjoyed a breakout campaign for the Hawks at the plate, ranking first in the America East in batting average (.377), slugging percentage (.702), on-base percentage (.482) and stolen bases (37)
• The senior outfielder, who has been successful in 37 of 40 stolen base attempts this season, ranks second in the nation in steals
• Thrasher inked his name atop the program's all-time (69) and single-season (37) record books in stolen bases after breaking each of those records against UAlbany on April 24
• Thrasher has tallied three or more stolen bases in three games this season, including a season-high four thefts in Hartford's 8-7 victory over the Great Danes on April 24 
• Not just a speed threat, Thrasher has shown flashes of power at the plate, boasting seven homers on the season, which are fifth-most in the America East
• Senior Nicholas Dombkowski has been the ace of Hartford's pitching staff, leading the team with four wins on the season
• Leading the America East with a .188 opposing batting average, Dombkowski ranks fourth in the conference with a 3.04 ERA
• Dombkowksi tossed the second no-hitter in program history on May 8 at UAlbany

LAST TIME OUT

• Hartford fell in three of four games against Maine this past weekend
• The Hawks defeated the Black Bears, 6-5, on Friday before dropping Saturday's bouts, 15-0 and 6-2, at Fiondella Field
• Maine took the series finale with a 16-6 victory over Hartford on Sunday
• Junior Donnie Cohoon led the offense with one homer and four RBI during the four-game stanza

UMASS LOWELL SCOUT

• UMass Lowell comes into the series at 17-26 on the season and 16-18 in the America East 
• Most recently, the River Hawks split four games against UAlbany this past weekend
• The two sides traded victories in Saturday's and Sunday's contests, with UAlbany narrowly edging UMass Lowell in runs, 20-18, over the weekend
• Redshirt senior Cam Climo leads the River Hawks' offense with eight homers, 32 runs scored and 34 RBI

 
LAST TIME THEY MET

• Hartford took three of four games against UMass Lowell earlier this month (May 1-2)
• The Hawks split with the River Hawks on May 1, taking the series opener, 8-2, before dropping the nightcap, 7-6, at Fiondella Field
• Hartford bounced back the following day, May 2 with a sweep over UMass Lowell, scoring 9-8 and 11-4 wins
• Thrasher led the offense with seven hits and five RBI over the four-game set
• Sophomore Tremayne Cobb Jr. added five hits, four RBI and a team-high five stolen bases during the four-game stanza

 
SERIES HISTORY
HARTFORD LEADS, 19-11

• The two sides have met 30 times as conference mates prior to this weekend's games
• Hartford holds a 19-11 advantage in the all-time series
• The Hawks are 10-4 in their last 14 contests against UMass Lowell

 
NEXT ON TAP

• If the Hawks clinch a postseason berth, Hartford will return to action on Thursday, May 27, when it opens play at the America East Championship held at Joe Nathan Field at Stony Brook 

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