BRISTOL, R.I. – Endicott College swept a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader against the Roger Williams University Baseball team, taking the first game 3-1 in eight innings and the second 8-4.
In the opener, Sean Boyle (Arlington, Mass.) and Tyler Hitchcock (Abington, Mass.) were locked into a pitchers' duel, with both hurlers tossing scoreless games through the third. Endicott would mount the first run of the game, with Brett Holmgren (Middleboro, Mass.) reaching on an error and later coming around on an RBI pinch-hit single by Steve Morganelli (Milford, Mass.).
The Hawks tied the game in the fifth, with Mike Pascarella beating out an infield hit to the pitcher, allowing Mike Thomas (Plainville, Conn.) to score from third with the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks nearly came away with the victory with Thomas leading off the inning with a single, then moving to second on a sac bunt by Tyler Campo (Wrentham, Mass.). Matt Swensen (Charlton, Mass.) would then move him over to third with a deep fly ball out to center. Pascarella nearly came through with the game-winning hit, but a good backhanded stop by Harry Oringer (Dartmouth, Mass.) at second prevented the run from coming in.
In extras, Endicott regained the lead in the eighth thanks to an RBI double from Oringer and a pinch-hit RBI single by Eric Lemke (West Hartford, Conn.). Hitchcock closed out the bottom of the eighth with a 1-2-3 outing for the win.
Hitchcock went the distance, allowing one run on six hits and three walks in eight innings of work. Oringer finished 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Greg Heineman (Wilbraham, Mass.) was 1-for-3.
Boyle suffered his first loss of the season, giving up two runs in seven innings of work with seven strikeouts. Thomas finished 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, while Pascarella was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
The second game saw the Gulls bring in three runs to start the game. Tad Gold (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) stole home on a successful double steal, followed by a Colin Sitarz (West Hartford, Conn.) RBI single and a sac fly by EJ Martinez (Brooklyn, N.Y.).
The Hawks grabbed one of the runs back in the bottom of the first, with Pascarella coming in on an overthrown ball while stealing third base. However, Endicott tacked on four more runs in the third inning, two of which coming on a single by Oringer.
The Gulls added one more in the fifth, but the Hawks mounted a rally in the bottom of the inning. RWU put three runs on the board, with John Oppenhimer (Westport, Conn.) putting up an RBI single and Reid Nelson (Wallingford, Conn.) coming through with a two-RBI double. However, those would be the last runs of the game as Endicott held on for the win.
Zac Poland (Essex Junction, Vt.) picked up the win, going five innings with six strikeouts while allowing four runs. Gold finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run, while Oringer was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run as well.
Dan Julian (Stratford, Conn.) suffered the loss, giving up six runs in 2.2 innings. Pascarella finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Thomas went 2-for-3 with a run.
Roger Williams (10-10, 2-2 CCC) hosts Babson College on Thursday, while Endicott (10-5, 2-0 CCC) hosts Southern Maine tomorrow.
