University of Hartford

WENHAM, Mass. - On Saturday, the Hartford Baseball team completed its regular season taking down Gordon College in a Conference of New England (CNE) sweep to clinch the #2 seed in the CNE tournament. 

Rapid Recap Game 1 (W, 13-6):

• In the first inning the Hawks took the lead as senior John Russell (Eastchester, N.Y.) singled home junior JJ Romatzick (Stratford, Conn.) who singled earlier in the inning. In the bottom of the second the Fighting Scots took the lead getting three runs on three hits. Gordon College would add a pair of runs in the third inning on three more hits and an error to jump ahead 5-1. Russell would get the Hawks offense started once again with a solo homer to cut the deficit 5-2 headed into the fifth. 
• Junior Alek Popovich (Dudley, Mass.) would launch a moon shot of his own in the top of the fifth. Hartford would get another run later on a fielder's choice as the lead was cut to a single run. Gordon would add a run in the bottom of the sixth as the lead was 6-4 headed into the seventh. 
• In the seventh the Hawks offense would explode for eight runs on seven hits to take a 12-6 lead. It started with a RBI single by senior Patrick Joseph (Pomona, N.Y.). Senior Cameron Boardman (Daegu, South Korea)  would earn a bases loaded walk to score a RBI followed by a two-RBI knock by Romatzick to give Hartford a 8-6 lead. Senior Jackson Ciccone (Danbury, Conn.) would follow it up with a two RBI double followed by a ribby single for senior Jeremy Mangiameli (Middlefield, Conn.). Russell would add the final RBI knock bringing the Hawk advantage to 12-6. Romatzick would add a RBI single in the top of the eighth to get the score to 13-6. Hartford pitching would close the door to give the visitors the game one win. 

On the Mound:

• Junior Anthony Bubba (Jefferson, N.J.) would go three innings allowing five runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Freshman Logan Smalley (Chatham, N.Y.) would get the next six outs without allowing a base runner. Sophomore Justin Gouin (North Haven, Conn.) picked up the win tossing two innings allowing a run with a pair of punch outs. Sophomore Michael Greco (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) would get the final six outs setting two down in the win. 

At the Plate:

• Russell led the offense going 4-for-6 with a homer and three RBIs. Romatzick went 3-for-6 with three ribbys of his own and a pair of runs scored. Eight Hawks in total earned a RBI with seven getting a hit in game one. 

Rapid Recap Game 2 (W, 6-5):

• The Fighting Scots took a two-run lead in the second inning getting a pair of runs on two hits and an error. Gordon would add a third run in the bottom of the third on a fielder's choice RBI.
• The Hartford offense would get their first runs in the top of the fifth inning putting up a six spot in the frame. It started with a RBI single by junior Alyis Godbee (Hartford, Conn.). Sophomore Sean Newman (Morris Plains, N.J.) would bring home two Hawks later in the inning on a single to left field. Graduate student Ryan Knight (Peabody, Mass.) would come home on a wild pitch to give Hartford the 4-3 lead. Junior Peyton West (South Windsor, Conn.) would add a RBI single and junior Tyler Shannon (Madison, N.J.) would bring home the final RBI with a sacrifice fly. 
• The pitching would dominate over the next couple of innings as neither team would get a run till the bottom of the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth the Scots would get within a single run getting a pair of runs on RBI hits, but senior Michael Featherstone (Ramsey, N.J.) got Hartford out of the jam with a huge strikeout. Featherstone would return in the ninth and close the door to lead the Hawks for a sweep. 

On the Mound:

• Senior Joe Dooley (West Hartford, Conn.) got the start going three innings allowing three runs (one earned) with four hits and three strikeouts. Junior Julian Rondon (West Nyack, N.Y.) picked up the win going two innings allowing just a hit and a walk with four punch outs. Freshman Mike DeRosa (Wolcott, Conn.) was next tossing a pair of innings allowing just a single base runner. Junior Joseph Ferrucci (Wolcott, Conn.) tossed a pair of outs allowing the two runs, with Featherstone getting the final four outs with four punchies. 

At the Plate:

• A. Godbee went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. West added a 2-for-4 day with a RBI. Only two Hawks had an extra base hit in game two. 

Up Next:
The Hawks have earned a first round bye in the CNE Tournament and will take on the winner of #3 Western New England University and #6 Wentworth Institute of Technology at 2:00 PM at Endicott College on Thursday.