Score: Hartford 12, UAlbany 11
Location: Varsity Field in Albany, N.Y.
Records: UAlbany (20-21, 9-15 AE) | Hartford (8-33, 7-17 AE)
Short Story: The University at Albany baseball team dropped its series finale against Hartford, 11-12, despite holding a comfortable seven-run lead after six innings. The Hawks scored a combined eight runs in the seventh and the eighth to secure the win.
Head Coach Jon Mueller: "We were able to extend our lead early and I think Connor really battled through seven innings. The defense was clean, and the offense was strong today. Unfortunately, at the end of the game, the free passes caught up with us again. We're going move on from this one and look forward to Maine next weekend."
Key Stats:
- UAlbany pitchers
- Johnny Marti (1-5) led UAlbany offensively, picking up four RBIs and scoring one run.
- Both Jason Bottari (1-2) and Josh Loeffler (3-4) recorded three RBIs and two runs.
- Will Feil finished 1-3, scoring two runs.
- Brad Malm (2-4), Will Binder (1-5), Michael Whalen (1-4) and Carson Dunkel (1-3) each crossed home plate once.
- Three Great Danes were left on base, eight Hawks were stranded.
- UAlbany batters drew four walks, whereas Hartford walked eight times.
- Eight Great Danes struck out, the Hawks struck out six times.
How it Happened:
- Connor Eisenmann started on the mound for the Great Danes, Ryan Dee started for the Hawks.
- Hartford took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Derek Tenney crossed home on a throw to second as the Great Danes attempted to catch a runner stealing and Daniel Burnett hit an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Tremayne Cobb Jr.
- UAlbany tied the game at two in the bottom of the second. Will Feil walked and Michael Whalen singled to get on base before Jason Bottari hit a sac fly to center, scoring Feil. The following at-bat, Josh Loeffler singled to left field to knock in Whalen.
- The Great Danes took a 6-2 lead in the fourth after driving in four runs. Bottari hit a two-RBI triple to left-center, knocking in Brad Malm and Feil who both singled, an RBI single by Loeffler allowed Bottari to reach home and Loeffler eventually crossed home plate as Johnny Marti reached first on a throwing error.
- Hartford made a pitching change midway through the fourth as Manny Corporan entered the game.
- The Hawks got two runs back in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run by Derek Tenney, also scoring Kevin Koziol.
- The Great Danes extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth. A single to left field by Loeffler brought home Bottari. Loeffler advanced all the way to third base on the throw and an error and eventually scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-4.
- Hartford's Nick Gatton took the mound halfway through the sixth.
- Still in the same inning, Marti hit a three-run home run over the right-field fence, also scoring Carson Dunkel who walked and Will Binder who singled.
- Three runs were scored by the Hawks in the top of the seventh. Burnett hit a two-run double to drive in Tenney and Koziol and Ben Maycock singled to left field, knocking in Burnett.
- James Judenis entered the game for the Hawks at the beginning of the bottom of the seventh.
- Chase Carroll replaced Eisenmann to start the eighth.
- Marshall Winn came in to pitch halfway through the eighth.
- Hartford took an 11-12 lead in the same inning. Koziol drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring Brett Anderson, Tenney hit a sac fly, allowing Donnie Cohoon to reach home safely, Cobb Jr. singled up the middle, bringing home Logan Cole, Koziol crossed home on a wild pitch and finally, Anderson was hit by a pitch, scoring Cobb Jr.
- Will Nowak replaced Judenis to start the bottom of the eighth.
- UAlbany changed its pitcher, bringing in Kyle McCaffrey in the ninth.
Next: The Great Danes will be back in action next weekend as they travel to Maine for a weekend series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany baseball by following the team on
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