BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team set a season-high for runs scored in a 13-8 win over the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Thursday afternoon in non-conference action.
The 13 runs for RWU sets a new high on the year for the Hawks, besting the previous effort of 12 in a 12-1 win over Eastern Nazarene on April 14. Roger Williams now stands at 12-25 on the year, while UMass-Dartmouth falls to 14-19.
Roger Williams put the first runs on the board in the bottom of the first, when Mike Pascarella (Milford, Conn.) came in on a wild pitch, followed by Derek Jerome (New Bedford, Mass.) scoring on a sac fly by Chris Travers (East Freetown, Mass.).
The 2-0 lead didn't last long, as UMass-Dartmouth answered with four runs in the top of the second. Nate Farias (Fall River, Mass.) and John Granahan (Hanover, Mass.) each contributed RBI singles in the inning, while Bedward Ortiz (La Vega, Dominican Republic) added a two-RBI single.
Ortiz and Granahan added to the Corsair lead in the fourth with RBI singles in the inning. Ortiz would add another RBI hit in the fifth to put UMass-Dartmouth on top 7-2.
The Hawks came back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth with five runs in the frame. Pascarella, Travers, John Oppenhimer (Westport, Conn.), and Trevor Manzi (Beverly, Mass.) each came through with an RBI for RWU in the inning, helping lead the Hawk comeback.
Both teams traded runs in the sixth inning, with the Corsairs getting one off of an RBI single by Alex Newton (Saco, Maine) and RWU coming back with an RBI by Jerome. The Hawks would break the game open in the seventh inning, scoring four times to take a 12-8 lead. Trevor Larson (Northbridge, Mass.) started things off with an RBI single, followed by an RBI double from Tim Georgen (Bristol, Conn.). Larson later scored on an RBI groundout from Chris Comeau (Southbury, Conn.), and Georgen came in on a wild pitch.
Oppenhimer tacked on one more run in the eighth with a solo shot to center field to put the Hawks up by five. Chris Anderson (Westerly, R.I.) came in the ninth for a 1-2-3 inning and secure the victory for RWU.
Dan Julian (Stratford, Conn.) his first win of the year in relief of Bryan Motta (Dighton, Mass.), who allowed six runs in three innings of work. Julian pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and two walks with three strikeouts. Georgen finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Comeau was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Oppenhimer added two hits, two runs, and two RBI.
Alex Kineavy (Somerset, Mass.) took the loss, allowing four runs in 0.1 innings of relief. Starter Josh Rebello (Acushnet, Mass.) allowed seven runs (five earned) in 4.1 innings. Ortiz was 3-for-5 with four RBI, with Farias and Luke Bomback (Somerset, Mass.) each going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Roger Williams remains in the hunt for the final spot in the CCC Tournament and will host Nichols on Saturday in the final doubleheader of the regular season. UMass-Dartmouth hosts Eastern Connecticut State, also on Saturday.
