Connecticut 8, Hartford 4

Hartford (1-11)      3 0 0  0 1 0  0 0 0 - 4 9 1

Connecticut (9-8)  4 1 0  0 1 0  0 2 X - 8 7 1

UH: Tony Cekovsky, Jeff Swedberg (7) and Kyle O’Neill. UC: Keith Potvin, Mike James (8) and Tyler Stefkovich. Win - Potvin, 1-1. Loss - Cekovsky, 0-4. Save - Mike James. 2B- Peter Soteropoulos (C), Tim Dempsey 2 (C). 3B - Tim Dempsey (C).

STORRS, CT (March 26) – The University of Connecticut baseball team won their second straight home game and sixth straight overall Wednesday, afternoon with an 8-4 decision over the Hartford Hawks at J.O. Christian Field. The win moves the Huskies to 9-8 on the season, while the Hawks fall to 1-11.

Hartford scored three runs in the top of the first as UConn starter Keith Potvin was fighting control problems, walking three and hitting another batter. UConn answered in the bottom of the first as Hartford starting pitcher Tony Cekovsky struggled to throw strikes. The key hit in the inning for the Huskies was a two run single to right by Mike Leonard as Connecticut took a 4-3 lead.

The two pitchers would settle down after the first as Potvin held the Hawks scoreless until the fifth. UConn would add a run in the second on Brett Burnham’s RBI single to right center that scored Russ D’Argento. Hartford’s run in the fifth came on an RBI single by Brian Eck that scored Matt Denorfia. The Huskies would push the lead back to two at 5-3 on an RBI by Mike Leonard, which scored Peter Soteropoulos who led off the inning with a double.

UConn would add two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on a two RBI triple by Tim Dempsey to score Tyler Stefkovich and Leonard for the final 8-4 margin

Potvin settled down to pitch seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits to pick up the win. UConn closer Mike James pitched two scoreless innings for his fifth save of the season. Cekovsky picked up the loss for Hartford.

UConn returns to action on Thursday when the Huskies travel to Quinnipiac at 3:00 p.m.