BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University began the TCCC Tournament with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Gordon College Wednesday afternoon, giving the Hawks its first 30-win season in school history. The Hawks came into the game ranked fifth in the NCAA New England Region and eighth in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association poll.

 

The Hawks put their first two on the board in the bottom of the second inning, when a grounder went underneath the glove of the shortstop, allowing Billy Dunn (Fiskdale, Mass.) and Ryan MacCarthy (Middleton, Mass.) to come around and score. Gordon responded in the top of the fourth when Aaron Whittet (Rye, N.H.) knotted the game at two apiece, with a two-RBI single to left field, scoring Daniel Hendricks (Dallas, Tx.) and Glen McElwee (Norfolk, Mass.).

 

RWU had an opportunity to regain the lead in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs but could not bring anyone around to score.

 

After the two run second inning, Andrew Zgrablich (Doylestown, Pa.) gave the Hawk hitters trouble throughout the rest day, recording at least one strikeout in every inning. He kept the Hawks at bay, not allowing a runner past second after the perilous fourth.

 

Senior Mike Malcolm (Brockton, Mass.) came on in relief for RWU in the sixth for James Lydon (Calverton, N.Y.), who pitched five innings, allowing the two second-inning runs while striking out two. Malcolm retired four in a row via the swinging strikeout before giving up an infield single to Christopher Mills (Winchester, Mass.). A wild pitch, walk and two stolen bases sandwiched around a strikeout put runners at the corners with two outs. Malcolm got out of the jam by getting Rob Mansfield to ground out to third.

 

The Hawks were able to get to Zgrablich in the bottom of the ninth, when MacCarthy took a close breaking ball just off the plate with a full count to draw the walk. Tim Atwood (Gorham, Maine) came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a Grant Bolin (Simsbury, Conn.) sacrifice bunt. Verrochi then singled to left to put runners at the corners with one out. Bill Lambert (Hanover, Mass.) stepped up to the plate, lining a 1-0 pitch to the right fielder Brett Morgan (Huntington, Mass.). Morgan fired the ball home, attempting cut down Atwood at the plate. Yet the throw came just short as Atwood slid in safely for the game-winning run.

 

Malcolm earned the win, tossing four innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit and striking out eight. Zgrablich took the tough loss, going the distance and striking out 14 Hawks in 8.2 innings.

 

Verrochi finished 2-for-5 at the plate for the Hawks, while Christopher Mills (Winchester, Mass.) was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for Gordon.

 

Roger Williams (30-10) will host Wentworth Institute of Technology, who defeated Endicott College 5-1 earlier, tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Gordon (11-21) will head to Endicott tomorrow for a 3:00 p.m. start.