BRISTOL, R.I. – A late comeback by St. Joseph's College (Maine) helped erase a 0-4 deficit as the Roger Williams University Baseball team fell to St. Joseph's 5-4 Friday afternoon in a non-conference matchup.
The Hawks tacked on all four of their runs in the second inning, beginning with a two-run homerun by Matt Swensen (Charlton, Mass.), bringing in himself and Zach Porter (Middleboro, Mass.), who led off the inning with a double.
After an HBP by Eric Bransfield (Lynn, Mass.) and a double to left by TJ Oliver (Manchester, Vt.), John Oppenhimer (Westport, Conn.) scored Bransfield with a productive groundout to second. Mike Pascarella (Milford, Conn.) would bring Bransfield in from third with an RBI double to left to put the Hawks on top 4-0.
It would not take long for the Monks to cut into the deficit, scoring three runs in the top of the third. Dan Achorn (Bow, N.H.) led off with a single to left and would later score on an RBI single by Sam Butts (Saco, Maine). Todd Keneborus (Hollis Center, Maine) stepped up next and sent a deep shot over the fence in right center to make it a 4-3 game.
The score remained until the top of the seventh, when Achorn scored the tying run from second, taking advantage of an errant throw from first in an attempt to turn a double play. With Keneborus on second, Alex Lorenc (Nanuet, N.Y.) earned the eventual game-winning RBI with a base hit to bring the runner in.
The Hawks went down in order over the final innings as St. Joseph's held on for the win. Swensen nearly sparked a ninth-inning rally, leading off with a rocket to the right side. Yet defensive replacement Matt Consigli (Northbridge, Mass.) made a clutch diving grab at second, forcing a groundout.
Sam Murray (Walpole, Mass.) earned the win for the Monks, going seven innings and allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Joe Gruntkosky (Peabody, Mass.) picked up the save, tossing the final two perfect innings. Butts and Lorenc each finished with two hits and an RBI, with a run scored by Butts.
Eric Diffily (North Reading, Mass.) took the loss, giving up the two seventh-inning runs in 0.1 innings. PJ Gouthro (Walpole) made the start for RWU, throwing 5.1 innings while giving up three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. Pascarella finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Bransfield and Oliver each had a hit and a run scored.
Roger Williams (4-8) will open Commonwealth Coast Conference play on the road Saturday against Eastern Nazarene College, while St. Joseph's (3-7) plays a doubleheader tomorrow at New Jersey City University.
