WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – In America
East Conference opening weekend, the University at Albany baseball team split a
doubleheader Saturday with the hosting Hartford College 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.
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