BOX SCORE
Norman, Okla. – The Hartford baseball team held #15 Oklahoma to just two hits but dropped the three-game series finale against the Sooner 8-3 on Sunday afternoon. Rookie Brady Sheetz led the Hawks hitters with a 3-of-4 effort at the plate. Hartford drops to 0-3 on the season, while Oklahoma improves to 4-2 overall in 2012.
Sheetz three hits led 11 total for the Hawks as seven total players finished with at least one hit. Sheetz was one of three Hartford players to finish with a multi hit performance as James Alfonso and Trey Stover each finished with two hits for the visiting team. Stover was joined by a couple of seniors, Andy Drexel and Simon Kudernatsch, who all finished with one RBI in the game. Kudernatsch finished the three game series against Oklahoma with eight hits in 13 at bats, a .615 batting average, with six RBI. Four of his hits went for extra bases, two doubles and a triple.
Freshman left handed hurler Sean Newcomb started his first collegiate game and worked a total of 5.2 innings. Despite allowing just one hit from the Sooners, Newcomb walked seven batters which allowed for five runs against, only one of which was earned. Sophomores Ryan Lukach (1.1 innings) and Brian Hunter (1.0 innings) also saw time on the hill for Hartford. Lukach did not allow a run but did allow one hit, while walking and striking out a pair of Sooners. Hunter finished with three runs allowed, despite not allowing a hit, but walked three batters.
For the second game in a row Hartford worked a lead against the Sooners before eventually relinquishing that advantage and succumbing to the top-15 team. The Hawks put single runs on the board in the third, fourth and fifth innings, building their largest lead of 3-1 heading into the sixth inning. The Sooners first run came in the bottom of the third and then a four run sixth allowed for the go ahead run, while three runs in the eight secured the home squads triumph.
Kudernatsch provided the first RBI of the afternoon when he drove in Stover who originally reached on a single through the left side and advanced to second on a well placed sacrifice bunt from Brian Estevez. RBI's from Stover in the third and Drexel provided the Hawks largest margin of 3-1 following the top of the fifth. The final run of the day for the Hawks was Drexel's solo home run to left center, the first of the season for the Hawks.
Hartford returns to the field for another three game weekend series when they travel to Virginia Military Institute on March 2-4 in Lexington, Va. The Hawks and Keydets will open the series with a single game on Friday, March 2 at Gray-Minor Stadium.
