#BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team closed out its final Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader before the playoffs begin with a split against Eastern Nazarene College Saturday afternoon, winning the first game 6-2 before dropping the second 1-3.
With the split, Eastern Nazarene (16-20, 9-13 TCCC) clinches the sixth seed in the upcoming Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament, while Roger Williams (11-23, 8-14 TCCC) is eliminated from postseason contention.
In the first game, Grant Bolin (Simsbury, Conn.) notched the first run of the game, scoring on an RBI triple by Trevor Manzi (Beverly, Mass.) in the bottom of the third to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
The Lions came back in the following inning on a solo home run to deep left field off the bat of Johan Villalona (Bronx, N.Y.) to tie the game at one apiece. Eastern Nazarene would overtake the Hawks in the fifth on an RBI groundout by Brandon Dauo (Bronx, N.Y.).
The bottom of the fifth would be the Hawks' key inning, as the team batted around in the frame and scoring five runs in the process to go back on top 6-2. Matthew Roche (Bristol, Conn.) had the big blow in the inning, a bases-clearing three RBI double that regained the lead for good for Roger Williams.
Ben O'Shea (Reading, Mass.) earned the victory for the Hawks, giving up two runs (one earned) while striking out eight in seven innings. Manzi and Zach Porter (Middleboro, Mass.) each had a pair of hits and a run scored for RWU.
Jonathan Ovalles (Bronx, N.Y.) suffered the loss, giving up three runs in 4.1 innings. Villalona finished the game 2-for-3 to go along with the home run.
The second game saw Eastern Nazarene grab a quick 1-0 lead in their first at-bat, as Joel Torres (Bronx, N.Y.) came around to score on an RBI single by Justin Denbow (Readfield, Maine). The Lions would later add a run in each of the third and sixth innings.
Tim Georgen (Bristol, Conn.) put the Hawks on the board in the bottom of the fifth, plating Matt Swensen (Charlton, Mass.) with an RBI single. Yet that would be the Hawks' only run of the game, as the Hawks went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position including a bases-loaded foul-out to end the game.
Joe Steinwedell (La Jolla, Calif.) pitched himself out of a few jams to earn the win, going the distance and allowing one run on seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts. Offensively, Jimmy Williams (Truckee, Calif.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Eastern Nazarene.
PJ Gouthro (Walpole, Mass.) ended up taking the loss, tagged for three runs (two earned) in 5.2 innings. Manzi and Georgen each went 2-for-3 in the game.
Eastern Nazarene will be on the road at #3-seed Endicott College on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., while Roger Williams will not be in action until May 4 for a non-conference away game against Eastern Connecticut State University.
