BRISTOL, R.I.- Junior Dan Roberge (Oakdale, Conn.) faced the minimum 27 batters in Friday's The Commonwealth Coast Conference Playoff game against Nichols College, allowing just one hit in nine innings pitched. Offensively, the Hawks tallied three runs, including junior Grant Bolin's (Simsbury, Conn.) home run on the first pitch to the Hawks.
A deep shot over the left field fence game RWU the quick 1-0 lead in what would turn into a strong defensive game for both teams. Roberge earned the win, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out four. Nichols junior Joseph Atchue (Grafton, Mass.) pitched eight innings, allowing seven hits, two walks and striking out two.
After Bolin's dinger, the teams remained scoreless into the seventh inning with Nichols recording its only hit of the game when sophomore Austin Martin (Wakefield, R.I.) singled up the middle in the fifth inning. The Hawks turned a double play on the next batter before a fly ball to senior Jamie Dahill (South Boston, Mass.) in centerfield ended the inning.
Nichols' only other man on base in the game was in the third inning when freshman Daniel Smith (Verona, N.J.) walked after working the count full. Three pitches later, Roberge picked him off at first. On the next pitch, Nichols junior Cale LaCasse (Killingly, Conn.) hit a hard grounder destined for right field before Hawks second baseman senior Bill Lambert (Hanover, Mass.) made a diving stab and quick throw to end the inning.
RWU rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning after sophomore Stephen McKernan (Grafton, Mass.) walked and Lambert singled on a bunt past the pitcher towards an empty right side. A passed ball moved the runners ahead before Bolin hit another deep shot to centerfield – this time caught for a sacrifice fly. Freshman Tim Georgen (Bristol, Conn.) hit another sac fly to right field to score Lambert and put RWU ahead 3-0.
Three Nichols ground outs in the eighth and Roberge finished the game with another 1-2-3 inning in the ninth, striking out LaCasse to end the game.
The Hawks advance in the TCCC Playoffs, traveling to Western New England College Saturday for a must-win game scheduled for 10 a.m. A win for the Hawks and the contest becomes a doubleheader with the winner advancing to the TCCC Championship game, Sunday, at 1 p.m.
