Box Score EAST BOSTON, Mass.- Ben Bonavita (East Longmeadow, Mass.) blasted a grand slam in the first inning to get the offense rolling and Roger Williams University Baseball team never looked back as the Hawks defeated Suffolk University 12-5 in their regular season finale on Wednesday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park. In a game where RWU utilized 17 different position players and seven different pitchers, the Hawks banged out 11 hits including six for extra-bases in their final tune-up before the start of the CCC Tournament on Saturday.
 
With the nonconference victory, Roger Williams finishes the regular season with a 19-9 (11-5 CCC) record. On the other side, the Rams fall to 11-10 (4-4 CCC).
 
Hawk Highlights
Ben Bonavita (East Longmeadow, Mass.): 2-for-3, GS, BB, 5 RBI, 2 RS
Joey Gulino (Meriden, Conn.): 2-for-3, 2 2B, SB, BB, 3 RBI, RS
Eddy Jackson (Seekonk, Mass.): 2-for-3, 2 2B, BB, 2 RBI
Matt Massaro (Fairfield, Conn.): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RS
 
Conor Gaughan (Walpole, Mass.): (W, 1-0), 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
 
For The Opponents
Tim Brigham (Cape Elizabeth, Maine): 3-for-5, 2B, RS
Andrew Ashworth (Nashua, N.H.): 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, RS
Zack Aresty (Wayland, Mass.): 1-for-4, BB, 2 RBI
 
Parker Browne (Shrewsbury, Mass.): (L, 1-4), 1.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, 0 K
 
How It Happened
Roger Williams struck right away against Suffolk starter Parker Browne (Shrewsbury, Mass.). With one out, Tyler Cedeno (Maynard, Mass.) got hit by a pitch, Brandon Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) singled, and George Somers (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) grounded into a fielder's choice giving the Hawks two runners on with two men out. Danny Roth (West Hartford, Conn.) stepped in and ripped a single to the opposite field to plate Jenkins and after a walk loaded the bases, Ben Bonavita (East Longmeadow, Mass.) blasted his seventh home run over the center field fence for a grand slam to give RWU a 5-0 advantage before the Rams even got to bat.
 
Suffolk got a couple back in the bottom half. The inning started harmlessly with a ground out, a walk, and a fly out before Tim Brigham (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) doubled into left to put runners on second and third ahead of Zack Aresty (Wayland, Mass.). He did his job dumping a single into right-center to cut the score to 5-2.
 
The Hawks tacked on some insurance runs in the middle innings. First, with one away in the fourth, Matt Massaro (Fairfield, Conn.) singled and Eddy Jackson (Seekonk, Mass.) doubled to give the Hawks two runners in scoring position for the top of the lineup. Joey Gulino (Meriden, Conn.) came through by pulling a two-bagger down the left field line. He promptly stole third and came home on a Cedeno sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 8-2.
 
Then in the fifth, the Hawks got a leadoff walk by Somers and a one-out single by Jack Morin (North Andover, Mass.) that allowed Somers to go first-to-third giving Bonavita another great RBI opportunity. He came through by singling through the shortstop hole to plate a run. After the second out was recorded, Jackson walked to load the bases for Gulino. He then took a free pass to force in another run and make it 10-2, Hawks.
 
In the sixth, Suffolk looked to get back in it. With one out, back-to-back singles put runners one the corners ahead of Andrew Ashworth (Nashua, N.H.). He took advantage with a run-scoring double before Luke Harder (Liverpool, N.Y.) brought home both runs with a single. This prompted a pitching change as the Hawks turned to Matt Vernacatola (Berlin, Conn.) who came up big by forcing a 4-6-3 double play to escape the jam and maintain the 10-5 advantage.
 
RWU put two more on the board in the seventh as Bonavita drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a Massaro double. Jackson brought them both home on a two-run double to make the score 12-5 and the bullpen did the rest to finish the win.
 
Conor Gaughan (Walpole, Mass.) got his first start of the season and pitched well enough to get his first career win going three full innings allowing three hits, three walks, and two runs. Browne only pitched the first inning for the Rams and allowed five runs on three hits, a walk, and a hit batsman and as a result he took the loss to fall to 1-4 on the season.
 
Coach's Corner
We played great today as a team. Pitchers pounded the strike zone and attacked hitters all day. Got in a little trouble in a couple innings with some freebies, however we worked our way out of them by trusting our defense to make the plays. Offensively, we showed up today and hit the ball well. Ben Bonavita had a huge day with the stick hitting a grand slam in the first inning to spark the offense. Joey Gulino and Eddy Jackson both had great offensive days as well. It was a good tune up for this weekend!  Now we focus all our attention on Salve Regina and the first round of the playoffs.
 
What's Next
The Hawks open up postseason play travelling to Newport for a big rivalry showdown against Salve Regina University in the semifinals round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament. Games one and two are on Saturday with game three, if necessary, on Sunday. First pitch on Saturday is set for 11:30 AM.