the Informer

A wild pitch and a misplayed line drive proved to be the difference in the Hawks’ loss to UMBC Saturday.

The Hawks opened up America East play at Fiondella Field, hosting the Retrievers for a four-game weekend set. They did not get out to a good start, losing 6-4 in the conference opener.

The crucial Hawk miscues came in the top of the sixth inning, leading to two Retriever runs, breaking a 4-4 tie going into the inning. The first came with one out and Brian Klukowicz on first for the Retrievers. At the plate, Casey Medairy showed bunt, trying to move the runner into scoring position. However, Klukowicz made it to second on a wild pitch by Hartford starter Steve Sobicinski, without sacrificing an out. No longer bunting, Medairy drew a walk.

The next batter, Aaron Brill, reached base on a fielder’s choice after grounding to third. The Hawks got Medairy at second for the second out of the inning, but could not turn the double play. Without the wild pitch, Medairy likely would have sacrificed for the second out of the inning. The Brill grounder would have provided the third out, and Rick Phillips would have led of the top of the seventh.

Instead, with two outs and runners on the corners, Phillips hit a line drive to center field. Hawks’ center fielder Andrew Siano misjudged the flight of the ball and let it get all the way to the wall. Both runners scored and Phillips reached third on the error.

Neither of the runs was earned, but they were back-breaking. The Hawks could not score in either of the next two frames. Each totaled scored four runs in the third inning.

The loss was the start of a long and difficult weekend for the Hawks. The Hawks took just one of four against the Retrievers over the course of two double-headers.
The lone win of the weekend came in a game on Sunday. The Hawks put together a solid offensive performance to beat the Retrievers 10-2 on Sunday.

The Hawks were led by the heart of their order. Mike Amendola, Andy Drexel and Mike Aldrich combined to bat 5-for-10 with seven runs batted in, two home runs, two doubles, two walks and four runs scored.

On the mound, Mike Thatcher scattered seven hits and six walks to allow just one earned run in a seven-inning complete game performance. While the Hawks did grab the one win, the three losses were difficult to stomach.

Saturday’s night cap went 12 innings. However, with three errors in the top of the twelfth, the Hawks lost, 14-9. The Hawks gave away a 7-3 lead in the ninth due in part to two errors in the inning.

Sunday, the Hawks again gave up a lead. The Hawks led, 4-1, into the fifth inning. In that frame, they allowed four runs on three hits, leading to a 5-4 loss to finish the weekend.

The Hawks (6-18, 1-3 AE) will resume conference play Saturday afternoon when they host the Albany Great Danes.