West Hartford, Conn. ? Sophomore outfielder Rodger Wilmot was 3-for-3 with a run scored in game one and recorded one hit, one run and one RBI in the nightcap to lead Hartford to a doubleheader sweep over UAlbany in America East Conference baseball action on Friday afternoon at the University of Hartford Baseball Field. The Hawks won the early game, 9-3, and posted an 8-6 win in game two.

            UAlbany broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning in game one, as senior Gary Pitcheralle drove a two-run homer over the fence in left field, scoring Sean Donovan, who drew his second straight walk of the game to get on base. It had been a pitcher's dual up until the fifth, with both UAlbany starter Dave Kubiak and Hartford hurler Ben Sobocinski allowing just three hits through that point.

Wilmot started a five-run inning for Hartford in the bottom of the frame, knocking out his second double of the game to lead off the inning. Wilmot advanced to third on a ground out by Drew Sgro and scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Andy Drexel out to left center. Brady Stouffer slipped a base hit past first base and the Hawks got two on base with a single through the left side by Andrew Siano. Catcher Mike Amendola loaded the bases for Hartford with two outs, sneaking a hit up the middle that the Great Danes could not make a play on. The Hawks took a one run lead on a two-RBI single by Sobocinski and added another on a throwing error on his stolen base. Hartford added the final run of the frame on a single by Matt Walker that dropped into the gap in left center, bringing Sobocinski home. UAlbany shortstop Sean Donovan made a fielder's choice play on Jon Ricco to end the inning for the Great Danes.

            Sobocinski walked two of the first three batters faced to start the sixth, and both baserunners advanced on a wild pitch, moving into scoring position. UAlbany cut the lead to 5-3 on a foul out by Mike Tirri down the right field line that allowed Ryan Gugel to cross home. Relief pitcher Bob Rogers induced a fly out to end the inning and keep the Great Danes at bay.

            Hartford added another run in the bottom of the sixth, as Wilmot recorded this third hit of the day to lead off the frame, and was brought home on a single up the middle by Siano. The Hawks went up 7-3 later in the inning, as Sobocinski drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring in Jason Freethy. Hartford then added two additional runs as Bobby Gorski drove a two-strike pitch into shallow center, scoring Amendola and Siano.

            Hartford got started early in game two, as Sobocinski and Amendola recorded back-to-back singles, followed by a base hit by Drexel that scored Sobocinski in the bottom of the first inning. The Hawks added one run in the second, as Wilmot, who drew a walk to reach base, made it home on a ground out by Gorski. UAlbany starter Josh WIllimott got catcher Alex Bulger swinging to end the inning.

            Hartford scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Sobocinski knocked a base hit up the middle, scoring Bulger, who led off in the inning with a base hit into center field. Sobocinski was responsible for the second run, crossing home plate on a fielder's choice by Drexel. Wilmot then drove in the final run with a single to right center, scoring Drexel. Reliever Dave Noble struck out Sgro swinging to get the Great Danes out of the inning.

            UAlbany broke up the shutout in the top of the seventh inning. Right fielder Brendan Rowland knocked a single into center field before Gugel drove him home all the way from first with a triple that reached the outfield fence in center. Dave West scored Gugel with a single to short and advanced to second on a base hit by Kyle Crean, then moved into scoring position at third with a sacrifice fly by Tirri.  Weston Szymanski, who became Hartford's career innings pitched leader in the game, induced a fly out to end the inning.

            The Hawks added a single run in the bottom of the seventh to hold onto a 6-2 lead. Sobocinski led off with a single down the left field line, then stole second and advanced to third on a UAlbany throwing error. Sobocinski scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Drexel. Pitcheralle kept the Great Danes within three runs with his second homer of the day in the top of the eighth.

            Hartford scored two additional runs in the bottom of the eighth, with Sobocinski driving in Bulger with a single and Siano crossing home on a wild pitch. The Great Danes mounted a comeback in the top of the final frame, scoring three runs with RBI hits by Jim Banks and Donovan. Szymanski got Pitcheralle to foul out to Gorski to end the game.

            UAlbany (22-29-1, AE 13-9) and Hartford (15-30, AE 7-13) will conclude the series with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

-agate-

UAlbany                        000       021       0          -           3          3          1

Hartford                        000       054       x           -           9          12        0

            UAlbany: Dave Kubiak, Jeff Kaier (6) and Ryan Gugel.

            Hartford: Ben Sobocinski, Bob Rogers and Mike Amendola.

UAlbany (22-29-1, AE 13-9)       000       000       213       -           6          12        6

Hartford (15-30, AE 7-13)          110       030       12x       -           8          14        0

            UAlbany: Josh Willimott, Dave Noble, Sean Gregory and Ralph Keppler.

            Hartford: West Szymanski and Alex Bulger.

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
ALBANY.............. 000 021 0 -  3  3  1
Univ. of Hartford... 000 054 X -  9 12  0
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Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
ALBANY.............. 000 000 213 -  6 12  6
Univ. of Hartford... 110 030 12X -  8 14  0
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