Box score
WEST HARTFORD, CT—Host Hartford scored runs in six different innings to gain a 12-4 win over NJIT Sunday afternoon in the third game of a three-game weekend baseball series.
The day before, the teams split a doubleheader and Hartford had to overcome an 8-1 fourth-inning deficit to win the opener before NJIT won the nightcap. But the Hawks, who pounded out 15 hits and stole eight bases on Sunday, led wire-to-wire in scoring the comfortable victory in the series rubber game.
Hartford scored twice in the first inning and added two more runs in the third. NJIT got on the board with a run and then loaded the bases to no avail in the top of the fourth inning. But the Hawks blew the game open with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the fifth for a 9-1 lead. NJIT got two more runs in the sixth, but Hartford answered with a two-spot in its half of the sixth inning. The teams added one run apiece over the last three innings.
The winning pitcher was Hartford starter Cory Beahm, a freshman right-hander, who lifted his record to 2-2 with five innings of one-run ball. He scattered five hits and struck out seven Highlanders without a walk. Two Hawk relievers combined to allow four hits and three runs (one earned) over the last four innings.
NJIT's starter, sophomore RHP Steven Ace (0-5), took the loss. He allowed nine hits and nine runs, with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Junior RHP Chris Parenti relieved Ace and allowed six hits and three runs in the last three innings.
1B Matt Walker and 3B Ben Sobocinksi combined for six of Hartford's 15 hits. Walker was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and Sobocinksi finished 2-for-3 with a team-best three RBI and scored one run. Seven other players finished with an RBI for the Hawks, while 2B Victor Santana finished with three hits and C Mike Amendola added two hits to round out the Hawks offensive leaders. Amendola also scored three runs and knocked in one.
Hartford enhanced the 15 hits with eight stolen bases--three in the first inning, two in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth inning. Sobocinski, CF Andrew Siano and SS Jason Freethey all finished with two thefts each.
The Highlanders, who have had hitting difficulties most of the season, logged one of their better hitting series of the season at Hartford, scoring nine runs in the game one loss, four runs in winning game two and four runs on nine hits on Sunday.
Freshman DH Dan Moreno was NJIT's hitting leader in the Sunday finale, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in. His season average went to .303, tops among Highlanders with more than 20 at-bats.
The other six hits came from six different Highlanders and included a double for senior 1B PJ Saporito and a triple for freshman RF Jeffrey Pizzi batting in the leadoff spot. Rookie SS Vincent Del Vecchio, followed a 5-for-5 in Saturday's doubleheader with another hit on Sunday to finish the series at 6-for-9.
Down 4-1 through three innings, the Highlanders took their best shot at getting back in the game when Pizzi tripled to lead off the fourth and then scored on a sacrifice fly by 2B Matt Tomczyk. NJIT got three more hits in the inning, but left the bases loaded in front of a two-run response from Hartford in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Highlanders picked up two unearned runs in the sixth inning, with the first run scoring on an error and the second coming home on a sac fly by freshman 3B Bryan Bleakley.
NJIT's final run was built when Tomczyk walked with one out, Saporito followed with a ground-rule double over the left field fence and Moreno singled to bring in Tomczyk.
The Highlanders, who made just two errors in the three-game series, were error-free on Sunday, turning three double plays in the process.
NJIT will return home to Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Wednesday at 4 pm for a game against Siena.
