BRISTOL, R.I. – The top-seeded Roger Williams University Baseball team edged out the #8 seed Becker College 1-0 in the opening round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III New England Baseball Tournament.

Sean Boyle (Arlington, Mass.) surrendered a lead-off single to Chris Testa (Providence, R.I.) to begin the game, and made it to second on a stolen base off of a swinging strikeout by Chris Flanders (Londonderry, N.H.). However, Boyle was able to induce a pair of infield pop-outs to get out of the inning. Becker's Tony Cantalupo (De Pere, Wisc.) pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, getting a ground-out and pop-out to second, and a fly out to right.

In the third inning, Becker notched back-to-back one-out singles by Testa and Flanders. A misplay on a grounder to third helped negate a potential double-play ball, as the Hawks were able to get only the out at second. With runners at the corners, Tom Natoli (Suffern, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Becker appeared to be in a good position to get the first run of the game on the board, but Boyle's strikeout of Taylor Kapulka (Worcester, Mass.) kept the game scoreless.

Through the first five, Becker scattered six hits, getting chances to put a run across the plate. However, Boyle continued to get the timely out to keep Becker at bay. Conversely, Cantalupo pitched strongly, holding RWU to only two hits and a walk over the first five innings.

Roger Williams' Mike Barry (Medway, Mass.) reached in the sixth on a bunt that dropped just in front of a diving Cantalupo. Mike Pascarella (Milford, Conn.) grounded into a fielder's choice, followed by a Jamie Timothy (Cohasset, Mass.) single to put runners at first and second with two outs. Yet a fly out to right field by Chris Travers (East Freetown, Mass.) kept the two teams tied at zero.

In the seventh, Testa poked a one-out single to center, then stole second base. On the next at-bat, Flanders hit a short chopper to third. Hawk third baseman Kevin Baker (Wilbraham, Mass.) charged in to make the play, but tried to make the tag on Testa, who was making his way to third. Testa was able to beat the diving tag by Baker, putting runners at the corners with one out and chasing Boyle from the game. RWU reliever Brendan Telfer (Avon, Conn.) came in and got Matt Consigli (Whitinsville, Mass.) to strike out swinging for the second out. A short fly-out to left field ended the Becker rally.

Kapulka led off the eighth for Becker, getting hit in the forearm. Mike Marcello (West Haven, Conn.) came up next and hit a frozen rope to right field that looked like extra bases, but right fielder Trevor Larson (Northbridge, Mass.) was able to run down the ball and make the catch. Telfer got Randall Minogue (North Kingstown, R.I.) to swing on the third strike, while Travers threw out Kapulka at second, who got a late jump.

In the bottom half of the inning, Larson led off by beating out a grounder to second base for an infield hit. A ball to the backstop put Larson on second, followed by Pascarella grounding out to second to move Larson over to third. Caulin Rogers (Gloucester, Mass.) had the crucial swing, sending a fly ball to center field that was deep enough for a sacrifice fly and bring home Larson. Telfer would come back on in the top of the ninth and set down Becker in order to give RWU the win.

Telfer pitched 2.2 innings in the win, allowing only one hit batter with three strikeouts. Boyle went 6.1 innings with eight Ks in the no-decision. Timothy finished 2-for-4 in the game, while Larson was 1-for-1 with a run scored.

Cantalupo went the distance in the hard-luck loss, giving up one run on six hits and two walks in eight innings. Testa was 3-for-5 at the plate for Becker.

On Saturday, Roger Williams (25-17) will host #4 Springfield College, who defeated #5 Framingham State University 5-2 earlier in the day. Becker finishes the season at 20-18.