Norwich — The Connecticut Tigers were forced to postpone Saturday night's game against the Vermont Lake Monsters after a smoke sensor in the visitors' clubhouse sounded twice prior to the planned start of the game, forcing the evacuation of Thomas J. Dodd Stadium.

The alarm first went off shortly before 7 p.m., and fans, staff and players for both teams mingled in the parking lot for about a half hour — some letting out a cheer when the Yantic Volunteer Fire Department trucks arrived.

After officials cleared the stadium for re-entry, the alarm sounded again. This time, after about another half hour of waiting, Tigers' General Manager Eric Knighton used a bullhorn to announce that the game would be postponed and a doubleheader will be played starting at 3 p.m. Sunday with each game lasting seven innings.

Tigers Senior Vice President C.J. Knudsen said the alarm was caused by a faulty sensor in the visitors' clubhouse that had malfunctioned earlier in the week and had been replaced. The sensor apparently was triggered initially Saturday by the air conditioner in the clubhouse.

Knudsen later said fire safety codes would not allow the team to disconnect the sensor for the night, and he did not want to risk a repeat evacuation once the game started. A technician was expected to arrive at the stadium late Saturday night to work on the faulty sensor, Knudsen said.

Fans were given vouchers to use Sunday or for any future Tigers game for the rest of this season and free parking passes.

"I've been working in Minor League Baseball for 20 years, and you think you've experienced it all," Knudsen said. "But this is a new one for me."

Hill named NECBL Sportsman of the Year

• After helping his team reach the New England Collegiate Baseball League Championship Series for the first time in more than 20 years, Mystic's Aaron Hill (UConn) was named Friday as the league's Sportsman of the Year. 

In his second summer with the Schooners, Hill, a Fitch High School graduate, established himself as a team leader on the field and in the community, as Mystic posted back-to-back winning seasons and postseason appearances. This summer, Mystic advanced the final game of the championship before falling to Vermont.

Hill earned a trip to the NECBL All-Star Game for the second year in a row after batting .252 with 20 runs, six doubles, 15 RBI and 13 stolen bases. He ranked fourth in the league in stolen bases. 

"Aaron Hill was the consummate team leader on and off the field for two seasons," Mystic general manager Dennis Long said in a press release. "His accomplishments have strengthened the Schooners' popularity and laid the foundation for partnerships with our community neighbors. I am both proud and grateful to have had him as a Schooner."

UConn men's soccer loses in exhibition

• Istvan Kanyo broke a scoreless tie with a goal in the 23rd minute, but UConn fell to No. 15 Syracuse, 2-1, at Morrone Stadium in the Huskies' final exhibition match.

Off a free kick, UConn freshman Abdou Thiam hit a cross into the box, where it bounced off the foot of an Orange defender to Kanyo. The senior defender gathered it and scored in the bottom left corner.

Syracuse tied the game in the 30th minute, and went ahead in the 70th minute.