WEST HARTFORD, CONN. The Hawks took on Wesleyan University at home on Tuesday, as an absolute slugfest took place at Fiondella Field. The Cardinals of Wesleyan would come out on top in nail-biter fashion, taking the victory 16-15.

Rapid Recap:

• Sophomore J.J. Romatzick (Stratford, Conn.)  started the game off with a lead off home run to left field, giving the Hawks an early advantage. A couple of at bats later sophomore Alek Popovich (Rochdale, Mass.) would add onto the Hawk lead with a home run of his own giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead through one.

• In the third inning Romatzick would hit a high fly ball into right field that would get lost and find its way down for an e9, scoring sophomore Zayn Godbee (Hartford, Conn.). Popovich would come up in the third inning and again send a ball up and over the fence giving the Hawks a 5-2 lead.

• Wesleyan would take control in the middle innings as through six and a half innings the Cardinals would find themselves with the lead 16-5.

• Hartford would mount a strong comeback starting with a two RBI double from Junior Ryan Knight (Peabody, Mass.) would plate two and cut the lead to 16-7.

• In the bottom of the eighth senior Thaire Stansfield (Dighton, Mass.) would secure his first collegiate hit by way of a solo home run. Later in the inning freshman Evin Curtiss (Simsbury, Conn.)  would come across by way of a bases loaded wild pitch. Wesleyan would again walk the bases and freshman Nico Digioia (Hamden, Conn.) would work a walk that would score another run to bring the score to 16-10. In the next at bat sophomore Alias Godbee (Hartford, Conn.) would hit a sacrifice fly to right field that would score freshman Sean Newman (Morris Plain, N.J.). 

• In the ninth inning Newman would knock in an RBI double that would score Curtiss. Sophomore Peyton West (South Windsor, Conn.) would keep the game alive with an RBI single that would score two and bring the Hawks within one run 16-15. However, the Hawks would not be able to close the gap as Wesleyan would come out on top in nine innings. 

At the Plate:

• Popovich finished the day going three-for-four with two home runs and 3 RBIs. Romatzick would end going one-for-four with his one hit going yard. Stansfield tallied a one for two day with his long ball coming as his only hit. Curtiss finished one for one with a double and a walk. Junior Jeremy Mangiameli (Middlefield, Conn.) finished one-for-three with a single and a walk. 
• Nine Hawks finished with a tally in the hit column 

On the Mound:

• Freshman Justin Gouin (North Haven, Conn.) got the start on the mound this afternoon going three and two thirds innings, giving up eight runs on nine hits, to go along with five strikeouts and a pair of walks in 19 at bats. Freshman Evan Gentile (Berlin, Conn.) would come into relief for his rookie counterpart going one and two thirds innings giving up four runs on one hit to go with five strikeouts, a pair of walks in six at bats. Senior Teague Mulcahy (Bayonne, N.J.) would throw two thirds of an inning giving up two runs on two hits, in four at bats. Sophomore Tyler Blumetti (Southington, Conn.) would come in for two innings of work giving up two runs on three hits, with a pair of strikeouts and a pair of walks. Junior Logan Huzi (Trumbull, Conn.) would close things out for the Hawks giving up no runs on one hit with a strike out and no walks in four at bats. 

Up Next:
The Hawks travel to Williamstown, MA. on Wednesday, Apr. 30 to take on Williams College before entering the Conference of New England Playoffs. That game is slated for 4:00PM first pitch.

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