WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (March 24, 2026) – The Western New England baseball team opened the game with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning against the hosting Hawks of the University of Hartford, but gave up six in the bottom of the inning and could never recover, dropping a 9-5 decision on the road in the first Conference of New England contest of the season on Tuesday afternoon from Fiondella Field. 

Records:

• Western New England: 7-7, 0-1 CNE
• University of Hartford: 6-6, 1-0 CNE

How it Happened:

First Inning:

• The Golden Bears started the scoring in the top of the first inning, quickly loading the bases with one out after Leo Paragarino and Alex Grenier reached on singles, while Corey Kilroy was hit by a pitch. Connor Cowern took a bases-loaded walk, followed by a hit by pitch to Zack Drewry, giving the Golden Bears the opening 1-0 lead. 
• Greg Nivison made the start for the Blue and Gold, a start he'd soon like to forget, surrendering five hits and six runs in the inning. Hartford's Nico DiGioia led off with a double, followed by a walk to put runners on quickly for Hartford. The Hawks then scored on an infield error by WNE and a single to quickly tie the game at two. The Hawks reloaded the bases and made the Golden Bears pay for the error, as Cameron Boardman launched a grand slam to put Hartford in front, 6-2. Nivison was able to get out of the inning from there, but not before damage was done, giving up six runs. 

Second Inning:

• Mark Zigmont sparked Western New England with a leadoff triple in the top of the inning, while Jack Gamache brought a run home with a single up the middle, trailing 6-3. 
• Hartford answered with two more runs in the bottom of the second after Zaynn Godbee hit a two-RBI double with two outs in the inning, giving the Hawks a five-run lead, 8-3 after two innings. 

Fourth Inning:

• Antonio Galizia led the top of the fourth off with his first career home run, bringing Western New England back within four, trailing 8-4. 
• WNE's Jack Lewis locked down the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, giving up just two hits and a walk while striking out five in the outing to keep the Hawks from breaking the game open. 

Seventh Inning:

• Western New England pulled back within three in the seventh inning, seeing Tyler Waterbury come up with an RBI single up the middle to score Corey Kilroy, who was hit by a pitch, getting the Golden Bears within three, 8-5.
• After holding off the Hawks for four straight innings, Hartford cracked the scoreboard for their ninth and final run of the afternoon, getting a home run from Jeremy Mangiameli, giving Hartford a 9-5 lead.

Ninth Inning:

• Alex Grenier reached base on an error from Hartford in the outfield to start a rally for the Golden Bears, but WNE could not rally behind the Hartford mistake, falling in Conference of New England action by a final score of 9-5. 

Inside the Lines:

• Western New England had eight hits in the game, with Mark Zigmont the lone Golden Bear to come away with multiple hits in the game. 
• WNE left ten runners on base in the game. 
• Greg Nivison falls to 1-2 on the mound this season, going just 2.2 innings, giving up nine hits and eight runs, six earned, while walking three and striking out three in the game. 
• The WNE bullpen held the Hawks to five hits and one run, consisting of Jack Lewis (3.1 IP), Lucas Kamoen (1.0 IP), Tyler Curtis (0.0 IP), and Ian Brais (1.0 IP).
• This is WNE's second straight loss to Hartford at Fiondella Field. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears stay on the road for the week, heading to Amherst College on Wednesday, March 25, at 3:30 PM before jumping back into Conference of New England action against Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday, March 28, at 2:00 and 5:00 PM for a doubleheader.