WEYMOUTH, Mass. — The Roger Williams University baseball team fell in a back-and-forth contest to Conference of New England (CNE) rival Wentworth, 11-9, on Tuesday evening at Libby Field, with the Leopards rallying with five unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Roger Williams was led offensively by Nick Sheehan, who went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Sam Weigel added a solo homer as part of his 1-for-5 night, while Ethan Keeney contributed with a 2-for-3 performance, driving in one run, scoring twice, and doubling. Owen Hibbard also had a solid night at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base. On the mound, starter Nick Gleason went five innings, allowing six runs on nine hits with two strikeouts, while Matthew Donovan (2-1) took the loss, giving up two runs in the eighth inning.
Wentworth's offense was fueled by Christian Roncal, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, three runs scored, and a stolen base. Nick Cullinan had a 3-for-5 effort with a triple, two RBIs, and two runs, while A.T. DiPina added three hits, including a double. Matthew Favazzo chipped in with two hits, two runs, and an RBI. On the mound, Cooper Smith (1-0) picked up the win in relief, while Brady Aubuchon earned his first save after closing out the ninth inning.
Roger Williams struck first in the second inning, plating three runs on an RBI double by Keeney, followed by two unearned runs due to a fielding error and a single by Hibbard. Wentworth responded with a solo home run by Roncal in the bottom half, making it 3-1 after two innings.
In the third, Weigel extended the Hawks' lead with a solo shot to left. Roger Williams added two more runs in the fourth on an RBI hit-by-pitch and a single by Masino, pushing the lead to 6-1. However, Wentworth roared back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on a two-run triple by Cullinan and a bunt single by Jake Prisco to close the gap to 6-4.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Hawks reclaimed momentum in the seventh when Sheehan launched a three-run homer to give Roger Williams a 9-6 lead. But Wentworth had the final say, scoring three runs, two unearned, in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 9-9. The Leopards secured the win in the eighth with an RBI single from Favazzo and a groundout by Roncal that brought home the decisive run.
Roger Williams (6-9, 1-2 CNE) will host Babson on Thursday, Mar. 27 at 3:00 pm on Paolino Field. The Hawks will then go to Dudley, Mass., on Saturday, Mar. 29, for a 12:00 pm matchup with Nichols for a doubleheader. The Hawks will then host CNE foe Curry on Tuesday, Apr. 1 at 3:00 pm.
