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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Huskies scored seven runs in the final two innings, taking a 9-1  decision from the Hartford Hawks in a mid-week battle on Tuesday at Fiondella Field. Hartford (3-16 overall) saw its only RBI of the game come off the bat of rookie Adam Touhey.

Hawks starter Ryan Lukach suffered the loss on the hill, giving up six hits in four innings of work. He allowed two runs, one of which was earned while walking one and striking out two. Offensively, Hartford finished with four total hits, who of which came from freshman Chris DelDebbio, the second of which began the fifth and led to the Hawks only run.

UConn struck first with a single run in the top of the second inning, thanks in part to a pair of Hartford errors. The first two batters for the Huskies reached safely with a leadoff single from Vinny Siena and a walk issued to Bryan Daniello. Lukach would turn a double play on a line drive back at him by Bobby Melley, but catcher Max McDowell followed that with the second hit of the inning, a single to left field that allowed Daniello to score from 180 feet away.

The Huskies added one more to its tally in the top of the third with Jon Testani and Eric Yavarone opening the stanza with back-to-back hits putting runners on the corners with no outs. After the third batter of the inning lined out to short, second-hole hitter Billy Ferriter beat out the double play attempt of the Hawks driving Testani in for the 2-0 advantage.

Hartford would cut the Huskies lead in half with a single run in the fifth, while holding the visitors scoreless for a four inning stretch. DelDebbio opened the inning with his second hit of the game, a single to left center. Pat Knauth then sacrificed himself to get DeDebbio into scoring position where he was able to score from second on a single to shallow center field off the bat of Touhey.

Connecticut opened things up in the eighth inning manufacturing four runs off of Hawks relievers Austin Barnes and Alex Gouin. Barnes would allow the first two batters to reach on free passes, a hit batter and a walk before Gouin came in to secure the first out on a strikeout, while both runners advanced into scoring position. After intentionally walking Siena to load the bases, Daniello's patience paid off as he worked the third walk of the inning, this one driving in the third run of the game for UConn. The Huskies then used a two RBI single from Melley and a sacrifice bunt from McDowell to take a 6-1 lead into the final six outs for Hartford. UConn added two more runs in the top of the ninth to secure the victory.

Hartford will continue mid-week play with a Thursday afternoon match-up with another in-state foe Fairfield. The Hawks and Stags are scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. start at Alumni Baseball Field. Hartford will then continue America East play with a three-game series against Binghamton scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Fiondella Field.