SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team fell one game shy of a Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship, defeating Curry College 7-4 to make it to the title game before falling 3-6 to champions Western New England University.
The Hawks enjoyed a stellar run to the championship game, winning their final doubleheader of the regular season to break a tie for the final playoff spot and earn the #4 seed in the tournament. RWU would then pick up wins over Curry and Endicott before dropping their first game to Western New England en route to today's action.
In the opener against Curry, the Hawks broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with four runs in the frame to take a 5-1 lead. Tim Georgen (Bristol, Conn.), Derek Jerome (New Bedford, Mass.), and Trevor Manzi (Beverly, Mass.) each notched RBIs in the frame to give the Hawks the advantage.
The Colonels came back to a run in each of the fourth and sixth innings, but the Hawks got back both runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Georgen and Chris Comeau (Southbury, Conn.). Curry made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth, scoring a run and getting the tying run at the plate with runners on second and third. Yet Chris Anderson (Westerly, R.I.) came through with a strikeout to earn the save and punch the Hawks' ticket to the championship game.
Bryan Motta (Dighton, Mass.) picked up the win, going eight innings and allowing three runs with three strikeouts. Comeau finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI, while Georgen was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI.
In the championship game, the Hawks scored first in the third inning on a sac fly by Mike Pascarella (Milford, Conn.) and an error in the field, allowing Georgen to score. The Golden Bears got both runs back in the bottom of the inning on a two-RBI double by Mike Taylor.
Neither team scored until the Golden Bears plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth to break the 2-2 tie. Western New England would add one more in the eighth on an infield hit.
In the top of the ninth, the Hawks made a valiant rally, getting the bases loaded with no outs. However, the Golden Bears' Kevin Jefferis came in and escaped the jam on a double play, allowing only one run to score. He would then induce a fly out to center to close out the game and clinch the championship.
Sean Boyle (Arlington, Mass.) took the loss, tagged for three runs in relief of Tyler Pogmore (Lebanon, Conn.), who also gave up three runs. Pascarella and Matt Swensen (Charlton, Mass.) each finished 1-for-3.
Western New England (33-11) earns the automatic bid to next weekend's NCAA Tournament, while Roger Williams ends the year at 17-27.
