Score: UAlbany 15, Hartford 1
Location: Varsity Field in Albany, N.Y.
Records: UAlbany (20-19, 9-13 AE) | Hartford (6-33, 5-17 AE)
Short Story: The University at Albany baseball team won its series opener against the Hartford Hawks by a score of 15-1 on Friday.
Ray Weber pitched seven strong innings, not allowing a run while also striking out six.
Josh Loeffler and
Carson Dunkel led UAlbany offensively with three RBIs each.
Head Coach Jon Mueller: "Ray was tremendous today. Vintage
Ray Weber, he worked quick and had a great pace. There was a tone of life on his fastball, he mixed three pitches, and the defense was solid. It felt like the first time all year we were playing at home. I feel like we got some momentum created. Really hope we can bring that forward and close out the series this weekend."
Key Stats:
- UAlbany pitchers
- Ray Weber pitched seven strong innings, allowing seven hits and striking out six.
- Carson Dunkel finished 2-3 with a two-run home run and a walk while picking up three RBIs and scoring three runs.
- Josh Loeffler also collected three RBIs, going 1-4. He also crossed home once.
- John Daly (2-4), Johnny Marti (1-4) and Michael Whalen (2-5) recorded two RBIs each. Daly hit a home run and also scored a second time, Marti and Whalen both crossed home once.
- Brad Malm went 2-4, tallying the final RBI for the Great Danes and also scoring two runs.
- Will Feil (2-5) and Jason Bottari (1-2) crossed home twice.
- Will Binder finished 0-3 but scored a run.
- Both teams left nine runners on base.
- UAlbany batters walked seven times, Hartford batters walked three times.
- Four Great Danes struck out, whereas the Hawks struck out eight times.
How it Happened:
- Ray Weber started on the mound for the Great Danes, Edwin Almanzar Jr. started for the Hawks.
- John Daly got us on the board in the bottom of the opening inning with a home run over the left-field fence.
- UAlbany extended its lead to 6-0 with a five-run third. With two outs, Brad Malm and John Daly reached base before Johnny Marti hit an RBI single to right, scoring Malm. Michael Whalen followed with a two-run single to right field, driving in Daly and Marti. Finally, Josh Loeffler hit a single through the left side and knocked in Whalen and Will Feil who singled.
- Hartford made a pitching change in the bottom of the fourth when Robert Chaney entered the game.
- The Great Danes added three runs to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Loeffler grounded out but drove in Feil who singled, and Carson Dunkel hit a two-run home run to right field, also bringing home Jason Bottari who was in scoring position.
- Julien Giroux-Harvey took the mound for the Hawks halfway through the bottom of the seventh with loaded bases.
- In the same inning, UAlbany scores three more times to grab a 12-run lead. Daly was hit by a pitch, allowing Dunkel to cross home, Will Binder scored on a passed ball and Marti hit a sac fly to center field, knocking in Malm.
- Thomas Quinn replaced Weber at the start of the eighth.
- Three more runners crossed home for the Great Danes in the bottom of the eighth. Dunkel hit an RBI single down the right-field line, driving in Bottari, Loeffler scored on a wild pitch, and Dunkel reached home plate on a sac fly by Malm.
- Hartford scored a run in the top of the ninth. Logan Cole's sac fly to right field brought home Noah Rivera.
Next: Game two against the Hawks is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany baseball by following the team on
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#BeGreat.
