Returning home after an away stretch, the Hartford Hawks defeated Western Connecticut with a 7-2 victory Thursday night at Fiondella Field. Senior Jake Santiago and sophomore Jackson Ciccone led the charge, each contributing two runs. 

Ciccone started the game off by sparking the offense with a single, and sophomore Jeremy Mangiameli followed with an RBI double. Sophomore Cameron Boardman's triple added another run as Mangiameli crossed the plate. 

As the game progressed, Hartford's offense remained relentless. Boardman's single in the third inning brought in Santiago, while freshman Stephan Kubis added to the lead with a single, scoring Boardman and Mangiameli. 

In the fifth inning, Santiago's double drove in sophomore Josh Kaplan, extending the lead. Kubis's groundout allowed Mangiameli to advance and Santiago to score. Hartford sealed the victory decisively in the seventh inning, with Santiago's single bringing in Ciccone and Payton West. 

On the defensive front, the Hawks utilized a trio of pitchers.Freshman Sam Smith started and secured the win, pitching 4.1 innings with one strikeout. Freshman Alex Angelidis contributed 2.2 innings with two strikeouts, while sophomore Michael Featherstone closed the game, pitching the final two innings and striking out three batters. 

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES: 

• Godbee has started in the last seven games, accumulating five runs and six hits over that span. 
• Santiago along with Boardman and Stephan Kubis, each recorded two RBI

• Eight different players contributed hits for the Hawks 

• Santiago has maintained consistency, recording at least one hit in 18 out of 21 games. He leads the team with 27 RBI and has recorded six RBI in the last five games. 

• Boardman has recorded two hits and two RBI in the last two games.

WHAT'S NEXT: Hartford (8-21-1, 4-8 CCC opponents) stays home and will return to CCC game play Noon Saturday, as they hosting the nation's top-ranked team in Endicott College for a doubleheader.