WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – In a game where both teams put a premium on resting top-of-the-rotation arms and getting young pitchers varsity experience over winning a relatedly meaningless non-conference game in early March, the University of Hartford scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to move out to a four-run lead and went on to a 7-5 baseball victory over Eastern Connecticut State University Wednesday afternoon at Fiondella Field.
A total of 15 pitchers were utilized by both teams – none for more than two innings – with Eastern's (4-3) regular lineup able to touch eight Hartford (4-5) pitchers for only five hits. Three of the hits went for extra bases, with senior centerfielder Ray Leonzi (Trumbull) lashing a solo home run leading off the ninth, senior catcher Hank Penders (Wethersfield) doubling in a run in the fifth, and sophomore third baseman Teige Kimbler (Albany, NY) doubling and scoring as the No. 9 hitter in the lineup in the fifth.
In relief of senior righty Mike Furgalack (Southington) – who fanned four and allowed a run and a hit over the first two innings – six relievers were awarded one inning of work each. First-year righty Jack Hawes (Orange) and sophomore lefty Joseph Barlovic (Bergenfield, NJ) made their varsity debuts, while junior righty Daniel Lapham (Middletown) and first-year righty Stephen Rickert (Williston, VT) made their second career appearances.
Barlovic, Lapham and Rickert shut out the Hawks on a double and single over the final three innings, fanning one without a walk.
With Eastern trailing 4-3, Hartford pushed across three runs in the fifth after there were two out and none on with three hits, a walk and infield error. Leonzi's second home run of the year as the first batter of the ninth sliced the Hawks' lead to two, but freshman righty Ryan Sheey gained his first save of the year by retiring the final three batters in order without a ball leaving the infield.
Beginning Sunday at Fort Myers, Eastern plays five games in four days with a single game against Otterbein University (4-6) at 9 a.m. The Cardinals, 26-15 a year ago and currently 2-2 in Fort Myers, face Hirman College Thursday, Wisconsin-Lutheran College and Skidmore College Friday and Dean College Saturday before meeting Eastern.