BRISTOL, R.I. – It was blustery Thursday afternoon at Paolino Field as the Roger Williams University Baseball team attempted to ride a gust to an upset, but their bid fell just shy, falling to No. 2/4 nationally ranked Eastern Connecticut State University, 7-4. The Warriors breezed, posting tallies in each of the final five frames before the Hawks came storming back, scoring four in the ninth and got the tying run at the plate but a groundout by Tyler Cedeno (Maynard, Mass.) halted the rally.
 
With the loss, RWU drops a contest to a nonconference foe for just the second time all season, falling to 25-5-1 on the year. The Warriors, meanwhile, improve to 30-3 and become just the sixth team to reach the 30-win plateau in the nation.
 
Dan Massaro (Fairfield, Conn.) got the ball for Roger Williams and worked in-and-out of trouble through his six innings but still only allowed three runs, two earned, on nine hits and two walks while fanning three but he took the loss to fall to 4-2. As good as Massaro was, ECSU starter Tommy Benincaso (Norwalk, Conn.) was even better throwing seven shutout frames surrendering just three hits and two walks to improve to 4-0. Bryan Albee (Killingly, Conn.) entered with two outs and the tying run at the plate but required just three pitched to lock down his second save of the season.
 
Hawk Highlights
Brandon Jenkins: 1-for-4, HR, RBI, RS
Christopher Flynn: 2-for-4, RBI
Tommy Hobin: 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, RS
Matt Massaro: 1-for-4, RS
 
Dan Massaro: (L, 4-2), 6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
 
For The Opponents
Brent Cosculluela: 3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, RS
Jason Claiborn: 3-for-4, 2 SB, BB, RBI, 2 RS
Josh Tower: 2-for-3, RBI, RS
Ryan Bagdasarian: 2-for-4, BB, RBI, RS
 
Tommy Benincaso: (W, 4-0), 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Bryan Albee: (SV, 2), 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
 
How It Happened
The first four innings would fly by as they frames were eventful yet scoreless. Dan Massaro (Fairfield, Conn.) surrendered plenty of traffic, allowing seven baserunners across the first four frames, but thanks to a trio of double plays, including a critical one on a lineout to first with runners on the corners and no outs, he held Eastern Connecticut State scoreless until the fifth. Jason Claiborn (Prospect, Conn.) drew a leadoff walk and stole second then came home on a Brent Cosculluela (Miami, Fla.) double down the right field line to allow ECSU to jump in front, 1-0.
 
The Warriors added on in the sixth, Ryan Bagdasarian (Glastonbury, Conn.) dumped a leadoff single into right-center then went first-to-third when Josh Tower (Auburn, Mass.) hit a comebacker that caught Massaro clean and rolled towards the vacated second base position to put runners on the corners. Massaro nearly wiggled out of it picking up a strikeout and then defending a squeeze bunt perfectly to cut down the runner at the plate. Claiborn followed by dropping a single into left center, Tower came home but Tyler Cedeno (Maynard, Mass.) misplayed the ball allowing a second run to score and the guests were in front 2-0.
 
The Warriors tacked on singular insurance runs, one unearned and one earned in the seventh and eighth respectively against Connor Hewlette (Deer Park, N.Y.), then added two more against Brett Lauterbach (Fairfield, Conn.) before the Roger Williams offense came to life and made things interesting in the ninth.
 
Matt Massaro (Fairfield, Conn.) leadoff by reaching on an error to open the inning. Brandon Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) would follow, and he would snap RWU's 16-inning scoreless streak by ambushing the first pitch and rocketing one straight through the wind and straight over the fence down the right field line for his seventh of the year. The first two outs were recorded then Ben Bonavita (East Longmeadow, Mass.) worked a walk and scored all the way from first on a two-bagger to left by Tommy Hobin (Madison, Conn.). After Mike Masino (Bayville, N.J.) chopped one softly down the third base line but legged it out to keep the inning alive for Christopher Flynn (Randolph, N.J.). He came through singling to center to bring the tying run to the plate. Eastern Connecticut made a change, turning to Bryan Albee (Killingly, Conn.) and he got Cedeno to groundout and end the ballgame.
 
What's Next
Things do not get any easier for Roger Williams, in fact, they get the exact same team as they will travel to Willimantic, Connecticut to battle Eastern Connecticut for a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of game one is set for noon.