BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University split a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader against Gordon College Tuesday afternoon, winning the opener 11-4 followed by a nine-inning 2-3 loss.
In the first game, the Hawks jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of three Gordon errors in the frame. Derek Jerome (New Bedford, Mass.), Mike Pascarella (Milford, Conn.), John Oppenhimer (Westport, Conn.), and Rob Zarthar (Dedham, Mass.) each scored in the inning for RWU. Pascarella and Oppenhimer would then tack on an RBI each in the second inning to push the Hawk lead to six.
Gordon would cut the lead in half in the fifth inning, getting runs from Carlos Pichardo (La Romana, Dominican Rep.), John Brownell (Glastonbury, Conn.), and Geoffrey Brown (East Moriches, N.Y.) to pull within three. However, the Hawks broke the game open in the sixth with five runs, with Oppenhimer and Trevor Larson (Northbridge, Mass.) each contributing two-RBI doubles. Brian Harrington (Shoreham, N.Y.) added an RBI single in the seventh for the Fighting Scots but that would be all they would manage.
Miscues by the defense hurt the Fighting Scots throughout the game, as Gordon committed seven errors in the contest.
Bryan Motta (Dighton, Mass.) notched his first win of the season, allowing three runs (one earned) in 4.2 innings while striking out seven. Pascarella was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Oppenhimer finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Jerome added two hits and three runs.
Ryan Reinsel (Hudson, Ohio) took the loss, giving up six runs on in 4.2 innings while striking out four. Pichardo was 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Brownell wen 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
The second game saw both teams' pitcher holding off the opposition to start the game. Josh Orosz (Fairfield, Conn.) of Roger Williams and Jacob Syed (Niskayuna, N.Y.) of Gordon combined to allow only three hits over the first three innings.
Gordon would strike first with Pichardo coming through with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Yet Matt Swensen (Charlton, Mass.) came back in the bottom of the frame with a clutch two-out, two-RBI triple to right field to give RWU a 2-1 lead.
The Fighting Scots would tie the game in the following inning on a throwing error a routine play to third, bringing in Ben Davidson (Sterling, Mass.) from second. Gordon had two more opportunities to score in sixth and seventh innings. Tyler Pogmore (Lebanon, Conn.) worked out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam for the Hawks in the sixth. The following inning saw Trevor Manzi (Beverly, Mass.) recover on a failed pickoff attempt to throw out Dillon Coleman at third to end the inning.
In extra innings, Eric Wolak (Trumbull, Conn.) notched the game-winning hit in the ninth with an RBI single to center to score Davidson. The Hawks were then set down in order to give Gordon the win.
Harrington pitched five scoreless innings of relief for the win, while Syed only allowed two runs in four innings. Pichardo went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Coleman was 2-for-5.
Mike Thomas (Plainville, Conn.) took the loss for RWU in his first appearance of the season, allowing one run in one inning. Orosz gave up one run in four innings in the no-decision. Swensen was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Hawks.
Roger Williams (6-17, 2-6 CCC) travels to Babson on Thursday, while Gordon (7-12, 3-3 CCC) hosts UMass-Boston on Thursday as well.
