Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team moved into first place in the Commonwealth Coast Conference after winning a pair of games over Western New England University by 7-6 and 8-2 margins.
 
Hawk pitcher Tyler Brett (Hebron, Conn.) got into a bit of trouble in the opening inning. He loaded the bases by allowing the first three batters to reach base via a hit batsman and two walks. He managed to induce a 1-2-3 double play to get two outs in the inning. However Jared Rosenblatt (Avon, Conn.) would load the bases back up. Ben LaCroix (Branford, Conn.) would step up next and notch a grand slam to right field for a 4-0 Golden Bear lead.
 
Western New England would add two more runs in the top of the third. Joe Casella (Wallingford, Conn.) began the inning with a leadoff single. After moving to third on a double by Rosenblatt, he would come home on a sacrifice fly by Lacroix. Rosenblatt then scored on a base hit by Brian Valerino (Stratford, Conn.).
 
Though down 6-0, the Hawks would begin their rally in the bottom of the fourth. Shane Nowak (Litchfield, N.H.) and Justin Stone (Blackstone, Mass.) posted back-to-back walks to lead off the inning. Brandon Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) hit a double to left center to score Nowak and put the Hawks on the board. Stone later came in on a wild pitch, while Danny Roth (West Hartford, Conn.) made it a 6-3 game with his RBI single.
 
Roger Williams would pull to within two in the fifth inning. A misplay at third base then a wild pitch put Anthony Dominguez (Chester, N.J.) on first with no outs. Chris Bosco (North Andover, Mass.) singled him in home with a base hit up the middle.
 
RWU managed to hold the Golden Bears scoreless in the sixth and seventh to set up one last comeback chance. With two outs and runners at first and second, Nowak punched a single just past third base to score Roth and bring RWU within one. Stone followed and struck out swinging, but the ball got away and Stone was able to beat out the throw at first while a heads-up play by Bosco allowed him to score from second base and tie the game. Jenkins would notch the clutch base hit to center and complete the six-run comeback.
 
Matt Vernacatola (Berlin, Conn.) earned the win, pitching 6.1 innings of relief and allowing two runs. Bosco and Roth each went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run and an RBI.
 
Matt Vigloitti took the loss, tagged for three runs in 1.2 innings. Valeriano was 2-for-2 while LaCroix was 1-for-2 with five RBIs.
 
The second game started similar to the first, but in the Hawks' favor. A hit batter and two walks loaded the bases for RWU in the bottom of the first. Jenkins would bring in two runs with his base hit to left. Roth, Dean DePreta (Stamford, Conn.), and Eddy Jackson (Seekonk, Mass.) all logged RBI hits in the inning to help put RWU up 5-0 and chase WNE's starter from the game. Dominguez added one more RBI base hit to put RWU up 6-0 after the first.
 
Western New England would answer with two runs in the second. LaCroix hit his second home runs of the twinbill to notch the Golden Bears' first score, while Aaron Rios scored Valeriano with a base hit to make it 6-2.
 
However that would be all Western New England could muster over the rest of the game. Roger Williams posted two more runs in the sixth on a two-RBI double by Roth to help put the game out of reach.
 
Chris Flynn (Naugatuck, Conn.) picked up the win for RWU on the day. DePreta had two hits, two runs, and an RBI while Roth had two hits, one run, and three RBIs.
 
Kevin Hummer (Hamden, Conn.) gave up six runs in 0.1 innings in the loss. Rosenblatt went 2-for-4 in the game.
 
Roger Williams (14-13, 7-1 CCC) hosts Amherst tomorrow at 4:00pm. Western New England (19-7, 5-3 CCC) will also be at home tomorrow against Keene State.