UMaine Baseball Drops Third Game of Series Against Hartford Sunday

Recap, photo is courtesy University of Maine

HARTFORD, Connecticut -- Maine Baseball drops the third game of the series against the Hartford Hawks 11-4 on Sunday afternoon. Maine falls to 11-26 overall and 2-9 in America East play. Hartford improves their record to 25-12 and 8-7 in conference action.

Chris Murphy started on the hill for the Black Bears and Sam McKay for the Hawks.

The Black Bears struck early in the top of the first, Kevin Stypulkowski grounded out to second but in the process scored Danny Casals giving Maine a 1-0 lead.

Hartford answered in the bottom half of the inning, Erik Ostberg hit a sacrifice fly to left tying the
game 1-1.

The Hawks scored in the bottom of the fourth, TJ Ward hit a solo shot to left field giving Hartford their first lead of the game, 2-1. Later in the inning, Ashton Bardzell scored on a wild pitch as the Hawks took a 3-1 lead.

Maine cut into the Hartford lead in the top of the fifth, Tyler Schwanz scored on a wild pitch bringing the score to 3-2. The Black Bears tied the game 3-3 after Jonathan Salcedo executed a suicide squeeze scoring Brenden Geary.

Nick Silva entered the game in relief of Murphy who finished the day with a line of four innings pitched, three hits, three runs, three walks and four strikeouts.

Ben Bengston reached on a fielder's choice for Hartford scoring one in the bottom of the fifth, regaining the lead for the Hawks, 4-3. TJ Ward later grounded out to third, scoring one and increasing the margin, 5-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, Erik Ostberg singled to right center driving in one run and taking a 6-3 advantage.

Silva was replaced by Jake Marks.

In the fourth consecutive inning Hartford scored, Ashton Bardzell singled up the middle in the bottom of the seventh, driving in one run and increasing their lead, 7-3.

Maine added one run in the top of the eighth after Jeremy Pena scored on a wild pitch, 7-4 Hartford.
Hartford added four more runs in the bottom half of the inning, Chris Sullivan reach by error after hitting a sacrifice fly to center. Later in the inning Ben Bengston tripled to left center driving in two runs and later scored after a throwing error as the Hawks increased their margin, 11-4.

Sam McKay earned the win (3-2), Nick Silva received the loss (2-2).

The Black Bears return to Orono as they host Rhode Island on April 26 for a weekday doubleheader. First pitch begins at 2:00 p.m. Kids receive free admission and adult tickets are $6.