BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team fell to Wentworth 19-2 on Tuesday afternoon at Paolino Field on the campus of Roger Williams University in Confernece of New England (CNE) play.
Nigel Cross pushed his record to 4-2 on the season, pitching 6.0 innings, with six hits, and allowing a pair of runs, neither earned, with five strikeouts, and two walks. Roger Williams'
Matthew Donovan took the loss giving up six runs, four earned, with four hits and a pair of walks.
At the dish, three players recorded three hits for Wentworth (8-15, 3-4 CNE) as Matt Robinson, A.T. DiPina, and Jake Prisco each had three hits , with Devon Lapierere, Christian Roncal, and Mike Sibert each having two hits in the game. Seven Leopards recorded an RBI with five earning two or more.
For the Hawks,
Braden Ventura went 3-for-3 with two RBIs in the opening inning, while
Sam Weigel had a pair of hits.
Will Florio, Chris Balzano, and
Ty Cali also recorded hits.
The Hawks were the first to strike. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning,
Sam Weigel reached on a throwing error by the Leopards' third baseman allowed him to reach. A single by
Will Florio set the stage for a base-clearing double by
Braeden Ventura to take a 2-0 lead.
Wentworth responded with a six-run inning in the top of the second. After a hit by pitch and walk, the Leopards' Mike Siebert reached on an error, loading the bases. Devon Lapierre then hit a single deep in the infield to short, bringing in a run. A double by Matt Robinson then added a pair, while Favazzo then added a run as the throw by the Hawks' shortstop went high, putting Wentworth ahead 4-2. A hit, followed by a liner into a double play, and another hit put the Leopards ahead 6-2.
The Hawks threatened in the bottom of the third inning, but left the bases loaded and again in the fourth, as runners stood on first and second. The Leopards had an opportunity in the top of the fifth, but
Louie Mosca picked off the runner standing at second, 1-6-5, to end the inning.
Wentworth had runners on the corners with two outs, when Christian Roncal knocked a double into the left centerfield gap, scoring a pair. Prisco then hit a ball straight back to the pitcher, bringing in two more runs to score as they took an 11-2 lead. After bringing the lead to 12 following a walk, Nick Cullinan hit a grand slam over the right field wall to cap the scoring, with 12 runs coming across all with two outs.
In the top half of the seventh the Leopards added one more run with Sibert hitting a single to short, scoring Prisco.
Roger Williams (11-16, 4-7 CNE) will host WPI on Thursday, Apr. 17 at 3:30 pm on Paolino Field. The Hawks will then turn their attention to a doubleheader at Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday, Apr. 19, before facing CNE foe Curry on Tuesday, Apr. 22.
