NEWPORT, R.I.- The Roger Williams University baseball team split its doubleheader with Salve Regina Friday afternoon, taking the first game, 5-1, before falling 3-1 in game two in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) action at Reynolds Field.

Sophomore Charles Matarazzo (Montville, N.J.) struck out eight Hawks in five innings to earn his second win of the season and give the Seahawks (15-21, 10-10) their fifth win in their last eight contests. The Hawks moved to 17-15-1 (12-7-1 TCCC) with the split.

The Seahawks responded quickly after losing the opener to grab a 1-0 lead in the first. A double by junior Riley Diaz (Miami, Fla.), a walk to senior Will Pearce (New Fairfield, Conn.), and a single by junior Dave Miller (Shelton, Conn.) loaded the bases with two outs. Junior Sean Sullivan (Pawtucket, R.I.) was then hit by a pitch from Roger Williams sophomore starting pitcher Sam Podbelski (East Greenwich, R.I.) to bring home Diaz.

In the second, Roger Williams sophomore Zach Porter (Middleboro, Mass.) led off with a double and came around to score on an single by senior Kevin Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) to tie the game at one. The Seahawks regained the lead in their half of the second when senior Justin Collett (South Portland, Maine) opened the frame with a triple and scored when RWU senior second baseman Bill Lambert (Hanover, Mass.) was unable to handle a grounder off the bat of freshman Nick Politelli (Warwick, R.I.). They added another in the sixth when sophomore Brendan Tapley (Warwick, R.I.) drove in his 10th run of the season.

Matarazzo scattered seven hits and walked two while allowing one run over five innings of work. Sophomore Pat Quinn (Middletown, N.J.) came on in the sixth and tossed two hitless innings to record his first save of the season. Podbelski, meanwhile, allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) and struck out four in six innings of work.

In the opener, the Hawks broke a 1-1 tie with one in the second, another in the fourth, and two more in the fifth to stake themselves to a 5-1 lead. Junior Grant Bolin (Simsbury, Conn.) led off the game with a long home run to left field and finished 2-for-3 while sophomore Stephen McKernan delivered the big blow, a two-run single in the fifth off sophomore reliever Mike O'Neil (Pawtucket, R.I.).

Sophomore PJ Gouthro (Walpole, Mass.) improved to 4-0 with the win for Roger Williams. He allowed seven hits and one run while striking out four in six innings of work. Sophomore Craig Silva (Marlborough, Mass.) took the loss for the Seahawks, allowing five hits and three runs while surrendering four walks in four innings of work.

The Seahawks close the 2009 regular season on Saturday when they host Wentworth at noon. The Hawks will play a doubleheader with Curry College at home beginning at 11 a.m.