Bubba
Steve McLaughlin
5
Hartford HART 0-1
6
Winner Methodist MUBB 5-1
Hartford HART
0-1
5
Final
6
Methodist MUBB
5-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hartford HART 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 5 13 2
Methodist MUBB 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 X 6 5 0

W: P. Patterson (1-0) L: Sheehy, Ryan (0-1)

7
Winner Hartford HART 1-1
3
Mary Washington UMW 2-1
Winner
Hartford HART
1-1
7
Final
3
Mary Washington UMW
2-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hartford HART 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 9 1
Mary Washington UMW 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 7 1

W: Bubba, Anthony (1-0) L: J. Myers (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Hawks Baseball Splits Opening Day

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The University of Hartford baseball team kicked off the 2025 campaign on Saturday splitting the two games in the Armstrong Invitational. The Hawks fell to Methodist University by a 6-5 final before winning against the University of Mary Washington by a 7-3 margin.
 
Rapid Recap Methodist University (L 6-5):
  • The Hawks fell behind in the early going as Methodist posted a pair of runs in the first inning on a RBI double and single. The lead expanded to 3-0 in the bottom of the second as the Monarchs tapped in another run in a RBI ground out. The Hawks bats were unlucky in the early going stranding runners in the first and fourth inning. 
  • The Monarchs expanded the lead further in the fifth pushing across two more runs on a single hit and two fielding errors. Methodist ended the run of scoring with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the sixth as the lead was 6-0 headed into the seventh.
  • The Hawks finally struck in the top half of the seventh as sophomore Alek Popovich (Rochdale, Mass.) launched a homer to right field to score junior Joshua Kaplan (Suffern, N.Y.) who reached on a single. Hartford would score a third run in the eighth inning as sophomore Zaynn Godbee (Hartford, Conn.) produced a sacrifice fly to score junior Patrick Joseph (Pomona, N.Y.). In the ninth the Hawks almost completed the comeback as junior Ryan Knight (Peabody, Mass.) belted a homer into right center scoring graduate student Jake Santiago (Bristol, Conn.), however the Hawks couldn't plate the tying run falling 6-5. 
On the Mound:
  • Freshman Ryan Sheehy (Shelton, Conn.) had the task of being the opening day starter tossing three innings of work allowing three runs with four strikeouts and three walks. Freshman Evan Gentile (Berlin, Conn.) followed being given the loss going 2.1 innings allowing three runs on two hits with a punch out. Sophomore Tyler Blumetti (Southington, Conn.) finished off the game hurling 2.2 shutout innings with three strikeouts in his first action since March 16th of 2024. 
At the Plate:
  • Popovich had a great start to the campaign going 2-for-5 with the long ball, a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Knight launched his first homer of the year as part of a 2-for-4 day with a pair of ribbys and a run scored. Junior Jackson Ciccone (Danbury, Conn.) added a 3-for-5 day from centerfield. 
Rapid Recap University of Mary Washington (W 7-3):
  • The teams were scoreless after the first two innings with the teams combining for just one hit over the span. In the third inning Hartford jumped in front as Popovich singled home junior John Russell (Eastchester, N.Y.). Ciccone followed that up with a huge double bringing home sophomore JJ Romatzick (Stratford, Conn.). Santiago kept the inning going with a twin ribby single up the middle to push the lead to 4-0. Sophomore Tyler Shannon (Madison, N.J.) finished off the scoring plating Santiago on a single to center. 
  • The offense continued in the fourth as Santiago walked in Romatzick who doubled down the left field line to get into scoring position. Knight followed with a single to right field to give Hartford a 7-0 lead midway through the fourth inning. The Eagles finally got on the board in the bottom half of the frame as a single to right center scored the lone run in the bottom half. 
  • The teams would trade zeros on the scoreboard before the bottom half of the seventh when the University of Mary Washington scored two more on three hits to cut the deficit to 7-3. The bullpen finished off the job for the Hawks to secure win number one on the new year.
On the Mound:
  • Sophomore Anthony Bubba (Jefferson, N.J.) dazzled in his first start of 2025 going four innings allowing a single run on just three hits with four strikeouts. Senior Luke Rier (Miami, Fla.) took over getting eight outs for the Hawks allowing two earned runs with three punch outs. Sophomore Julian Rondon (Bardonia, N.Y.) came in next going 1.1 innings with three strikeouts while just allowing a single hit. Freshman Michael Greco (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) closed things out striking out the side in the ninth to secure the win. 
At the Plate:
  • Romatzick came in clutch in game two going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and runs scored. Santiago picked up three ribbys in a 1-for-4 second game to go with a run scored. Popovich added a 1-for-2 game two with two runs scored and another RBI. 
Post Game Press:
"It felt great to be back on the field with my guys and start off with a win", said sophomore JJ Romatzick (Stratford, Conn.). "Can't wait to keep this going!"

Up Next:
The Hawks will be in action tomorrow taking on Hanover College at 10:00 AM.

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