BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team closed out the regular season with a split against New England College Saturday afternoon, falling by a 4-6 score before mounting a seventh-inning rally in the second game for a 4-3 win.
In the opener, the Pilgrims struck in the top of the first, with Brandon Adorno (Ft. Myers, Fla.) doubling in Pierce Byrd (Ft. Myers, Fla.) from second to put NEC up 1-0. The Hawks would answer with three runs in the bottom of the first, beginning with back-to-back leadoff doubles by Mike Pascarella (Milford, Conn.) and Trevor Manzi (Beverly, Mass.). Mike Thomas (Plainville, Conn.) and Chris Ford (Plainville, Mass.) would each pick up RBIs in the frame for RWU.
The Pilgrims would regain the lead in the top of the fourth, starting with a two-RBI single by Jimmy Lauzon (Manchester, N.H.). John Holtman (Mendon, Vt.) would later score from third on a successful double steal to put New England College back up 4-3.
In the following inning, the Pilgrims tacked on two more with Adorno and PJ Crowley (Pawcatuck, Conn.) each touching home to make it a 6-3 game. In the bottom of the seventh, Eric Bransfield (Lynn, Mass.) took the first pitch of the inning over the right-field fence to pull the Hawks within two. Tyler Perrin (Thetford, Vt.) would enter the game NEC and allow a Manzi double before picking up the save.
Adam Climo (Southport, Maine) would earn the win for NEC, giving up four runs in six innings with six strikeouts. Lucas Burgess (Bath, N.H.) and Gerry Allen (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) would each finish 2-for-4 in the game.
Sam Podbelski (East Greenwich, R.I.) took the loss for RWU, allowing four runs in four innings of work. Ford and Bransfield each had two hits and an RBI for the Hawks, with Manzi going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
The second game saw the Pilgrims come up with two runs in the top of the first off the bat of Allen, bringing in Crowley and Byrd. Roger Williams would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Thomas, but the Hawks would then be held scoreless until the seventh. New England College added one more run in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Lauzon.
In the Hawks final at-bat, Pascarella began the rally with an RBI groundout to make it a two-run deficit with two outs in the inning. RWU would then load the bases via a pair of walks and a hit batter, leading to Tim Georgen (Bristol, Conn.) taking one for the team and bringing in Trevor Larson (Northbridge, Mass.) after getting hit. Ford would follow with the game-winning hit, scoring Manzi and closing out the regular season with a win.
Tyler Pogmore (Lebanon, Conn.) picked up the win for RWU, giving up an unearned run in one inning of relief for Josh Orosz (Fairfield, Conn.), who gave up two runs in six innings with seven strikeouts. Ford finished 3-for-4 with the GW RBI, while Pascarella was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Chris Wallace (Manchester, N.H.) took the loss, tagged for four runs in 6.2 innings before Perrin faced the final three batters of the game. Lauzon, Burgess, and Allen each had a hit in the game for the Pilgrims.
Roger Williams (21-19, 15-7 TCCC) opens up The Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament on Tuesday, while New England College (11-20, 7-14 TCCC) attempts to keep its playoff hopes alive with a rescheduled game against Gordon on Monday.
