The Hartford baseball team lost to Western New England University by a score of 12-6 on April 28 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The defeat prevented Hartford from securing the number two seed in the Conference of New England playoffs.
The outcome affects playoff positioning as Hartford remains the second seed with a 12-4 record, trailing Endicott College and leading Western New England, which holds the third spot. Both teams have two games left before playoff seeding is finalized.
Western New England took an early lead with three runs in the first inning, helped by two hits and a defensive error. Hartford responded in the fourth inning when Jackson Ciccone singled home a run and Jeremy Mangiameli hit a home run to tie the game at three. Despite briefly taking a lead after Ciccone’s two-run single in the fifth inning, Hartford could not hold off Western New England’s offense.
The Golden Bears scored four runs in the sixth inning due to timely hitting and another defensive error by Hartford, extending their advantage to 10-6. They added two more runs in the eighth for the final margin.
Justin Gouin started for Hartford, pitching just under four innings and allowing five runs (three earned). Logan Smalley was charged with the loss after giving up four runs over one and one-third innings. At bat, Mangiameli went three-for-three with a home run and two RBIs while several other players contributed multiple hits.
Looking ahead, Hartford will play Coast Guard next with hopes of solidifying its playoff position.
