UAlbany Baseball Splits Twin Bill At Hartford
Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
Updated Season Stats
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – In America East Conference opening weekend,
the University at Albany baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday with the
hosting University of Hartford Hawks. The Great Danes captured game one by a score of
9-6, while the Hawks took the edge in the nightcap, 3-1.
In the opener, hot bats came out of both dugouts, beginning
with UAlbany's five-run head start off hurler Kyle Gauthier. With two outs and
the bases loaded, Greg Muller took advantage with an RBI single to
left-centerfield, scoring two. Jeff Welsh and Matt Hinchy kept the rally alive as
they lined a double and single, respectively, for a 5-0 lead.
However, like UAlbany (4-8, 1-1), Hartford (1-13, 1-1) batted through the entire
order in their first cracks, scoring three. Great Dane starter Derek Zielinski had
some difficulty finding the zone, walking the first two batters. From there,
the Hawks tagged UAlbany for a two-run scoring double, bunt single, and
sacrifice fly to right field. After two
more walks, reliever Brendan Ryan left two runners stranded with a strikeout to
end the side.
Defense picked up for both teams in the next three innings.
Out of the bullpen, Cameron Sorgie faced just one over the minimum until the
fifth frame when Hartford tagged the Danes for two runs on singles sandwiched
around a walk, tying the ball game, 5-5.
In the top of the seventh, the Great Danes made the most of their
final at-bats, giving themselves a four-run cushion. D.J. Hoagboon lined a leadoff
single to center, moved to second on Josh Nethaway's sacrifice bunt, and to
third on a wild pitch. Freshman Evan Harasta knocked the go-ahead run home with
his sac fly to right field. From there, Muller walked, Welsh and Hinchy lined
back-to-back singles, scoring Muller, and Craig Lepre walked to load the bases,
all with two outs. A costly fielding error at short off the bat of Nolan Gaige,
allowed two more runs, both unearned, to cross the plate.
With UAlbany leading 9-5, Hartford looked to rally in the bottom
of the seventh. The Hawks loaded the bases after two hit batsmen and a single,
and plated one on a sacrifice fly. However, Sorgie ended the rally with a
strikeout to earn the win for UAlbany.
Sorgie (1-0) tossed six strong innings, allowing three hits, three
runs, while striking out eight.
Reliever Anthony Mannuccia took the loss, throwing one
frame, allowing three hits and four runs (two earned).
Offensively, Hinchy and Welsh led the Danes, both going 3-for-4,
while Muller went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Hinchy also had a
team-high three runs batted in.
In the nightcap, Hartford struck first with a single run in
the opening frame off starter Kasceim Graham. The Hawks played small ball,
using a leadoff single, stolen base, sacrifice bunt, and sac fly to plate the
run.
The Hawks' 1-0 lead remained until UAlbany tied it up with
an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Richard Bacon reached base on a one-out
walk, advanced on an error by the shortstop, and scored on Hoagboon's RBI
single to centerfield with two outs.
However, in the bottom of the frame, Hartford answered with
two unearned runs of its own. After two walks and an error, Adam Touhey lined
an RBI double to left, giving the Hawks a 3-1 advantage.
The Great Danes put runners on base in each of the final
innings, but were unable to get a rally going.
Brian Hunter earned the win for Hartford, allowing one run
and three hits in six innings of work, and Jeremy Charles took the save,
hurling a scoreless ninth.
For UAlbany, Graham (2-2) tossed seven and a third innings, allowing six
hits and three runs (one earned), while striking out six. Andrew Jaurique tossed the final two-thirds, facing one batter and forced a double play.
Gordon Madej (2-for-5) and Welsh (2-for-4) led the Danes'
offense with two hits apiece.
Sunday's rubber match between UAlbany and Hartford is slated
to begin at noon. Austin Chase and Sean Newcomb are scheduled to face off on
the mound.
