AMHERST, N.Y. - The Hilbert College baseball team picked up their first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory this spring when they posted a 6-3 win over D'Youville College at the Northtown Center.
The Hawks slipped in the nightcap and suffered a 6-1 setback splitting the Buffalo Cup series with the Spartans.
Tristan Aldinger went 3 for 6, scored three runs and stole two bases while
Zachary Crane tossed his second complete game of the season.
GAME ONE
Hilbert manufactured five runs in the top of the 4th and built a 6-1 lead over the Spartans. D'Youville tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th but that was it.
Tristan Aldinger went 2 for 4, scored two runs and stole one base while
Griffith DeMayo matched Aldinger's performance at the plate with two hits.
Zachary Crane earned his first win on the hump, fanned eight Spartans, give up nine hits, but zero earned runs.
Aldinger opened the 2nd with triple to right field and was pushed home of
Jonathan Wilson's RBI single which knotted the game at 1-1.
DeMayo, after doubling down the left field line, moved to 3rd off Aldinger's bunt. With bases loaded, DeMayo moved home when Wilson took a pitch to the body.
Benjamin Heilig's 2 RBI double to left field kept the pressure on and
Jared Welnowski's RBI single finished the scoring in the 5th.
Crane got out of the final three innings with big strike outs to earn the win.
GAME TWO
The Hawks looked good early, taking a 1-0 lead after the 1st inning. But the Spartans tagged a solo run in the 5th and two runs in both the 6th and 7th innings of the 9 inning game splitting the day with a 6-1 win.
Hilbert earned four hits highlighted by Heilig's triple as the host's pitching crew struck out eight.
Dan Munn (1-2) took the loss on the mound with two earned runs, one strike out and four walks in five innings.
Aldinger walked to start the game and immediately stole second base. He moved to third off a DeMayo sac fly and then scored the unearned run off a passed ball.
Hilbert had a chance to add another run on the board in the 4th, but a fielders choice hit led to the pitcher connecting with his catcher at home tagging Hilbert out at the plate.
The Hawks stranded two runners in scoring position in the 5th and Heilig attempted to squeeze his triple in the top of the 9th into a home run, but the Spartans' relay from the left field beat him to the plate and ended the game.
Hilbert (3-13 and 1-3 AMCC) will host back-to-back games this weekend at Niagara University's turf field. The Hawks welcome the AMCC Preseason favorites, La Roche University April 6 and then will make up their twice postponed Penn State Altoona game on Sunday, April 7 with 1st pitch around 1:15pm
Be sure to stay up-to-date on all your Hilbert Hawk scores and awards by following @HilbertAthletic on Twitter and by liking the "Hilbert College Athletics" Facebook page. Additionally fans of the Hawks who have an Apple device can receive push notification from the Hilbert College Hawks iOS SideArm mobile App which can be found in the Apple Store and in ITunes.
