AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team opened the 2025 season with a victory on Friday afternoon, as the Hawks downed Saint Mary's (Minn.) 7-1 in non-conference action on Saturday at the RussMatt Tournament down in Florida.
 
The Hawks saw Matthew Donovan pick up the win while pitching 2.0 innings, with three strikeouts facing seven batters. Lucas Lariviere excelled in his start, going 5.1 innings on the bump with four strikeouts and two walks, while allowing three hits and one unearned run. Saint Mary's saw Drew Rothenberger get the start, pitching three innings giving up one earned run on two hits with six walks. Patrick Schork fell, pitching two innings giving up four earned runs.
 
At the dish, Owen Hibbard went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI and two walks in the contest, while Nick Sheehan had a pair of hits. Mike Masino had two walks and 1 hit while coming around to score, while five players earned RBIs for RWU.
 
For the Cardinal, Daniel Sherman went 2-for-3 while Sam Knickerbocker had a hit along with Stephen Golden and Noah Lahner. Riley Bauman, Will Boeckman, and Jack Anderson each had a steal.
 
Roger Williams struck first scoring in the top of the first, with Rory Lynch drawing a bases-loaded walk to bring in Masino in the opening inning.  In the top of the third Roger Williams had two outs, with a runner on second and third, when Braden Ventura drew a walk load the bases. The Cardinal were able to get out of the jam, with Rothenberger forcing the groundout.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Bauman was caught trying to steal home, being tagged out at the plate to remain tied. After forcing extra's after meeting the 7^th inning quota for regulation in a Spring Break contest, the Hawks were able to explode in the top of the ninth, scoring six runs off four hits, while holding the Cardinal scoreless in the bottom of the ninth to take game one.
 
Roger Williams will be the home team in game two against Saint Mary's.