BROOKLINE, Mass. – The Hartford baseball team dropped its doubleheader to Northeastern Sunday afternoon. The Hawks fall to 1-12 on the season while the Huskies improve to 17-4 on the year.
GAME ONE: NORTHEASTERN 10, HARTFORD 6
After Northeastern jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the third inning, the Hawks would respond with a big sixth inning.
Devin Kellogg and
Noah Rivera led off the frame being hit by pitches before
Jake Santiago would reach base via the walk. With the bases loaded,
Ryan Knight drew a four-pitch walk to bring home the opening run of the game for Hartford. A fielder's choice on the next play from
Harrison Engstrom would allow Rivera and Santiago to score, tying the game up at three apiece. With two outs,
Derek Benzinger stepped up and lined a double down the left field line, plating Engstrom and giving the Hawks a slight 4-3 edge on the scoreboard. Two batters later,
JJ Romatzick reached base on an error by the Huskies left fielder, scoring both
Martin Chavarria and Benzinger on the play to now lead, 6-3.
After the Hawks took the lead in the top half of the sixth
Joe Dooley entered the game in relief for Hartford starter
Robert Chaney who punched out six batters in 5.0 innings of work. In three solid innings of relief, Dooley allowed just two hits and two walks with two strikeouts to keep the Hawks up on the scoreboard. However, the Northeastern bats would wake up in the bottom of the ninth for seven runs to take game one, 10-6.
GAME TWO: NORTHEASTERN 3, HARTFORD 2
Northeastern would get the scoring started once again in game two, taking a 1-0 lead after the bottom half of the second inning. Hartford would go on to tie the game up at one apiece in the top of the fourth after Knight drove home Kellogg with a sacrifice bunt. Kellogg had reached base earlier in the inning with a bunt single to the Huskies third basemen. However, Northeastern would immediately respond with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain its lead at 3-1. In the seventh, Knight would get the inning started with a line drive double down the right field line before Benzinger followed lacing an RBI single through the middle of the infield to cut the gap to 3-2. Despite the late effort to mount a comeback the Hawks fell short, stranding two runners aboard and eventually falling to the Huskies.
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES
- Robert Chaney got the start on the mound in game one, earning no decision after allowing one earned run on four hits with six strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work.
- Joe Dooley had a solid outing of relief, striking out two batters and allowing just two hits in 3.0 innings of work.
- Benzinger had a solid day at the plate driving home two RBI with one double on the afternoon.
- Edwin Almanzar Jr., (0-4) got the start in game two and took the loss after pitching a complete game and allowing two earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
- Knight went 1-for-2 at the dish in game two with a double, walk, and an RBI.
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford continues its eight-game road trip with a stop in New York for a midweek matchup against Fordham. First pitch between the Hawks and Rams is set for 3 p.m., at Houlihan Park.
