FT. PIERCE, FL – The Hawks from Hilbert College battled to an early morning 8-7 loss to Geneva College before they suffered through a 20-3 late afternoon game March 12. .
The Hawks found themselves in a big hole trailing 8-0 after the mornings first three innings. After holding the Tornados in-check in next two innings, Hilbert turned-up their offense the final innings and their seven-run outburst turned out to be too little, too late.
Geneva tallied two runs in the top of the first and tacked six unanswered markers in the third inning.
The Hawks got on the board in the sixth with a bases-loaded
Sal Carroccia base on balls.
Michael Marcinkowski and
Paul Wujek each knocked in an RBI single to trim the lead before they headed to the top of the 7th.
Connor O'Malley turned away the next three Geneva batters and Hilbert returned to the dug-out.
Ryan Bonafede walked before
Joshua Maier reached thanks to a Tornado shortstop error.
Sal Carroccia earned another walk to first base and
Eric Flores knocked in Bonafede with a sac fly to center.
Chris Shriver's 2 RBI single to center sent Carroccia and Maier home for the final score.
Paul Wujek led the Hawks with 2 RBIs after going 2 for 4 and
Chris Shriver's single hit turned him into the other 2RBI batter on the day.
Dalton Reynolds was credited with the Hawks only stolen base.
Hilbert finished the morning game with only two errors while the Tornados were tagged with four.
The afternoon game started similarly to the morning game; Geneva picked up 8 runs by the bottom of the 3rd inning, but Hilbert also tallied one run by that point also. The difference in the afternoon game was the 12 Geneva runs scored over the next two innings putting Hilbert in a 20-2 hole after the bottom of the fifth.
Michael Marcinkowski singled to right field in the sixth and pushed
Bradley Perrin home for the final run of the game.
Paul Wujek was walked in the 3rd inning, but didn't stay at first base very long. He stole 2nd base and continued on to 3rd thanks to an error by the pitcher. He scored the first Hilbert run after another error in the left field.
Joshua Maier opened the top of the 4th with a triple to left field.
Michael Voveris knocked him home with a sac fly to center earning his RBI.
Andrew Cartaginese stayed the longest on the mound as he was credited with 2 full innings with one strike out and two hits.
Thomas Raiport closed the game with three strike-outs and gave up two hits.