WEST HARTFORD, CONN - The Hawks hosted the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University for a Non-Conference match-up on Wednesday April 1st. The game would end in a 12-12 tie, as the umpires walked off the field before the start of the ninth inning. 
 

Rapid Recap:

• Eastern would jump to an early advantage as a big two out rally would spark four runs for the Warriors. The Hawks would come back in the bottom of the frame as some solid base hits from junior Alek Popovich (Dudley, Mass.) who would drive in the Hawks first run of the day. In the following at-bat freshman Jayden Gaither (Meriden, Conn.) would drive in the Hawks second run with a base hit just out of reach of the second baseman to shrink the lead to 4-2.

• In the top of the second inning Eastern would extend their lead with a single into shallow left center that would plate two for the Warriors making it 6-2.

• Hartford would bring in another run in the bottom of third inning as Popovich would bring in senior Jeremy Mangiamelli (Middlefield, Conn.) from first on a hard hit double into the warning track in right field, making it a 6-3 ball game. 

• Popovich would drive in yet another run on a hard hit single to second base which junior JJ Romatzick (Stratford, Conn.) would come through and score. In the next at bat junior Peyton West (South Windsor, Conn.)  would hit a bloop single into shallow center field and score senior Jackson Ciccone (Danbury, Conn.) to make it a 6-5 game. 

• In the top of the fifth inning, a single up the middle would bring in two runs, giving Eastern a 8-5 advantage. 

• In the bottom of the fifth frame, senior Josh Kaplan (Suffern, N.Y.) would lay a bunt down which would get thrown away by the pitcher bringing in a run. Mangiaemeli would come up in a few at bats and bring Kaplan around with a RBI single up the middle as it would be 8-7 through five innings.

• In the top half of the sixth inning, Eastern would tack on three more runs, to put them ahead 12-7. In the bottom half, sophomore Nico DiGioia (Hamden, Conn.) would knock down a hard hit ball into left field that would get bobbled and bring in a run. 

• Hartford would finally put the Eastern bats to a halt, and in the bottom half of the seventh inning, senior John Russell (Eastchester, N.Y.) would hit a sacrifice fly that would bring in Ciccone and shrink the ECSU lead to two. In a big spot, junior Alyis Godbee (Hartford, Conn.) would come up and bring in two runs with a double into right center field, to tie things at 12 runs a piece.

• The eighth inning would see no scoring from either team, however at the bottom of the frame, with both teams ready to go back out, the officials decided to call the game, speculatively due to visibility, by walking off the field without meeting with either team. This would result in a 12-12 tie through eight innings, which is how the game would finish. 

At the Plate:

• Popovich would end the day going 4-5 with 3 RBI and a double
• . A. Godbee would finish with a 3-4 day at the plate with three RBI and the game tying double in the seventh. 
• DiGioia would finish 2-6 at the dish with 2 RBI. 
• The Hawks would tally three extra base hits, on an afternoon that would see 19 hits for Hartford. 

On the Mound: 

• Freshman Mike DeRose (Wolcott, Conn.) would start the day on the mound for Hartford going 0.2 innings and giving up four runs on one hit, with two strikeouts.
• Junior AJ Formato (Fairfield, Conn.) would come in for relief and throw 1.0 inning giving up two runs on two hits, with one strikeout and a walk.
• Sophomore Sean Stanley (TeakNeck, N.J.) would come in and see 1.1 innings giving up a hit, and earning a strikeout in five batters faced.
• Senior Logan Huzi (Trumbull, Conn.) would see 1.0 innings giving up one hit in four batters faced.
• Sophomore Jeffrey Blake (Hopewell, N.J.) would come in and see 1.0 innings of work giving up four runs on three hits with a strikeout.
• Junior Julian Rondon (West Nyack, N.Y.) would come in and see 1.2 innings giving up two runs on one hit with a strikeout.
• Coming into close things out for the Hawks, sophomore Michael Greco (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) would come in and deal two walks and two strikeouts in six batters faced in his 1.1 innings.

Up Next:
The Hawks will take on Conference of New England opponent Roger Williams University on Saturday April 4th, for a doubleheader with first pitch slated for 12:00PM.