The Hartford baseball team swept Bowdoin College in their opening games of the Russmatt Florida Invitational on March 14, winning both contests behind strong pitching performances.
The victories mark a positive start for the Hawks as they begin their spring break trip, with players and coaches highlighting teamwork and momentum as key factors. The sweep sets an encouraging tone for the rest of the tournament.
In Game 1, junior Anthony Bubba pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only two hits and three walks while striking out four batters. Alek Popovich drove in both runs for Hartford with a single in the first inning. “It was a really good team win, the defense behind me was amazing and being able to come down into the warm weather and continue to stack wins felt good,” said Bubba. “The team played great and we will continue to try and carry that momentum for the rest of the games.”
Game 2 saw senior captain Joe Dooley start on the mound, giving up one run over three innings before an hour-long rain delay. Senior Michael Featherstone entered in relief, recording a three-inning save by striking out four of nine batters faced. Offensively, six different Hawks collected hits, with RBIs from Jermey Mangiameli, Josh Kaplan, and Ben Shultz helping secure a 4-3 victory. “I think this first day for us was crucial in building momentum for the rest of the week,” said Featherstone. “After a long travel day yesterday it was great to get out on the field today and compete. Today was a collective team effort and I’m not able to pitch and close the game out without my teammates putting me in that position.”
The Hawks are scheduled to play William Paterson University next at 1:30 PM as they continue their participation in the Russmatt Florida Invitational.
