Albany, N.Y. - Left fielder Matt Walker went 4-for-4 with three RBI in game one to lead Hartford to a doubleheader sweep of UAlbany in America East Conference baseball action on Friday afternoon at Varsity Field. The Hawks took the opener, 5-3, in extra innings, while winning, 4-0, in the nightcap.

            UAlbany cut a 2-0 Hartford lead to one in the fourth inning of the first game when shortstop Kyle Crean was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. After Hartford tacked on a third run in the sixth on an RBI single by Rodger Wilmot, UAlbany tied the game in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra frames. Brian Bullard hit a sacrifice fly to score Brendan Rowland, who walked to start the inning, while catcher Ralph Keppler drove in Nolan Gaige for the tying run.

            Hartford responded with two runs in the top of the eighth, as Walker smashed a two-run homer to centerfield, which also sent right fielder Andy Drexel across home. UAlbany had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, with Adam Cutspec reaching on a Hartford error. Crean drove a fastball to the right field fence, but Drexel snatched the ball at the top of the wall to end the Great Danes' chances of a rally.

            Keppler finished with two hits for UAlbany, while Wilmot added three base hits for the Hawks. Freshman Brian Rice earned the win for Hartford with a two-inning performance in relief, while Kasciem Graham took the loss for UAlbany. Starter Dave Kubiak went three innings on the mound for the Great Danes, striking out four.

            Catcher Alex Bulger led Hartford in the nightcap with three hits, including a double. The Hawks scored single runs in the fourth and fifth, and added two in the seventh to seal up the victory. UAlbany managed just four hits in the game, led by Nolan Giage, who connected for two singles. Right-hander Anthony Mannuccia tossed a complete-game shutout for the Hawks, striking out seven opposing batters. UAlbany used four pitchers in the game, with the loss going to Ryan White, who fanned two in a two-inning appearance in relief.

            UAlbany (10-37, AE 9-14) and Hartford (11-36, AE 5-18) will wrap up the series on Saturday with a single game starting at 1 p.m. The Great Danes will honor their two graduating seniors, Rowland and Pete Eichner, in a pre-game ceremony.

-agate-

Hartford             010     101      02        -           5          11        4

UAlbany           000      100      20        -           3          5          3

            Hartford: Mike Thatcher, Brian Rice (7) and Mike Amandola.

            UAlbany: Dave Kubiak, Greg Lutton (4), Kasceim Graham (6) and Ralph Keppler.

Hartford (11-36, AE 5-18)        000      110      2          -           4          6          3

UAlbany (10-37, AE 9-14)        000      000      0          -           0          4          2

            Hartford: Anthony Mannuccia and Alex Bulger.

            UAlbany: Zach Kraham, Ryan White (4), Brian Gauthier (6), Mike Baltera (7) and Ralph Keppler.

Hartford 5, UAlbany 3 (May 21, 2010)

2010 UAlbany Baseball
Hartford at ALBANY (Game 1)
May 21, 2010 at Albany, N.Y. (Varsity Field)

Score by Innings                   R  H  E
------------------------------------------
Hartford............ 010 101 02 -  5 11  4
ALBANY.............. 000 100 20 -  3  5  3
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Hartford 4, UAlbany 0 (May 21, 2010)

2010 UAlbany Baseball
Hartford at ALBANY (Game 2)
May 21, 2010 at Albany, N.Y. (Varsity Field)

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Hartford............ 000 110 2 -  4  6  3
ALBANY.............. 000 000 0 -  0  4  2
-----------------------------------------