New Haven, Conn. (March 15) -- Despite a late rally, the baseball team dropped its first game of the day to New Haven 6-5 at Frank Vieira Field on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Hawks to 4-7 while the win improves New Haven to 1-8.

New Haven got on the board quickly, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After Evan Okon (Bellmore, N.Y.) doubled with one out, Jimmy Rivas (Toa, Baja, P.R.) brought him in with a single.

New Haven struck again for four runs in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Okon and Rivan both singled to open up the inning, and Chad Lemos (No. Dartmouth, Mass.) brought in Okon with a single two batters later. Cesar Garrido (New York, N.Y.) doubled in Rivas, while Lemos was cut down at home trying to score. Dan Rosa (Bristol, Conn.) brought in Garrido on the next batter, and Ken Appel (Orange, Conn.) singled in Rosa to put New Haven up 5-0.

New Haven struck for a single run in the fourth, as Tom Rombilus (Monroe, Conn.) singled and stole second to open the inning. Michael Moras (Orange, Conn.) singled him in later in the inning.

New Haven starting pitcher, Matt Sommo (Clinton, Conn.), continued to hold the Hawks in check through the first seven innings, but the Hawks' bats came alive in the eighth. After Dave Wirkus (Orange, Conn.) doubled, Ryan Gargan (Byfield, Mass.) walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Ryan O'Rourke (Norwood, Mass.) then doubled in Wirkus. After a New Haven pitching change, Eric Baca (Franklin, N.H.) grounded out, bringing in Gargan. Evan Kelleher (Haverhill, Mass.) then singled to bring in Ryan O'Rourke, cutting the New Haven lead to 6-3.

The Hawks brought in two more runs in the ninth, as Melvin Purdue (Jonesboro, Ga.) singled with one out. With two outs, Wirkus walked. Gargan struck for a two-run double to right field, bringing the Hawks to within one. The Hawks stranded pinch-runner, Steven Panza (Watertown, Mass.), on third though, ending the game 6-5 in favor of New Haven.

Mike Fantini (Haverhill, Mass.) recorded the loss for the Hawks, going three innings allowing five runs on 11 hits and one strikeout. Matt Stone (West Roxbury, Mass.) threw well in relief for the Hawks, going five innings only allowing two hits, one run, and picking up three strikeouts.

Sommo improved his record to 1-1 with a seven and one-third innings performance, allowing eight hits, three runs, and picking up eight punchouts. Mitch Rossi (Bristol, Conn.) picked up the save, his first of the season.

The Hawks are back on the field for a neutral site game this afternoon at Frank Vieira Field, taking on Northeast-10 opponent Merrimack.