WASHINGTON D.C. – The Hartford baseball team split its series opening doubleheader against Georgetown on Saturday. After falling 6-3 in game one, the Hawks bounced back with a 5-3 victory in 12 innings in game two. Hartford moves to 1-4 on the season, while the Hoyas jump to 9-6 on the year.
GAME ONE: GEORGETOWN 6, HARTFORD 3
Georgetown wasted little time getting the scoring started, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead after the opening frame. Hartford would find the scoresheet in the top of the third after
Devin Kellogg reached base on a throwing error that brought home
JJ Romatzick from third. Romatzick reached base earlier in the inning on a single, before making his way over to third after a ground out and passed ball. However, the Hoyas would tack on one more run in the fourth to take a 6-1 advantage into the fifth. Looking to chip away at the deficit, the Hawks would bring
Derek Benzinger around to score in the fifth inning after
Ryan Knight drew a walk with the bases loaded. Trailing 6-2 heading into the top of the ninth, Hartford looked to mount a comeback as Romatzick drove home
Jackson Ciccone with an RBI single up the middle. Despite the late push the Hawks would eventually drop game one, 6-3.
GAME TWO: HARTFORD 5, GEORGETOWN 3 (12 inn.)
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Hoyas would strike first in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run off the bat of Ubaldo Lopez. Trailing by two in the fifth, Hartford would cut the deficit to one run after
Martin Chavarria reached base on a fielder's choice which brought home
Jake Santiago from third. Santiago who had reached earlier in the inning via the walk, would be moved over to third after a single from Benzinger and free pass drawn by Romatzick. However, Georgetown would immediately respond in the bottom half of the fifth with one run of its own to extend its lead to 3-1. Hartford would respond in the eighth, bringing two runs across the plate after
Harrison Engstrom's RBI single up the middle. Engstrom's liner would bring around Knight and Kellogg to tie the game at three aside.
Heading into extra innings with the game tied at 3-3, Hartford looked to bring the leading run across the plate. After two scoreless frames, the Hawks lit up the scoreboard in the top of the 12th with two runs off a Kellogg hit that drove home Romatzick and Chavarria. Now leading the Hoyas 5-3,
Manny Corporan returned to the mound for his fifth inning of relief to slam the door shut and seal the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES
- Romatzick went 4-for-8 at the dish on the day, including two runs, one RBI and one walk
- Ciccone recorded his first career-hit in game one.
- Alec Couture (0-2) got the start in game one, allowing six runs on six hits and four walks over 4.0 innings of work.
- Luke Rier and Jake Burt each made relief appearances in game one.
- Engstrom went 3-for-6 with one RBI in game two.
- Robert Chaney got the start on the mound in game two, earning a no decision after allowing three runs on six hits, striking out three batters in 5.1 innings of work.
- Christian Krause pitched 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one hit and one walk.
- Corporan (1-0) earned the win, pitching 5.0 scoreless innings of relief with four punch outs.
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford rounds out its three-game weekend series at Georgetown on Sunday. First pitch between the Hawks and Hoyas is set for 1 p.m.
