AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team swept Fitchburg State in doubleheader action on Friday morning, defeating them 12-4 in the first game before shutting the Falcons out in the second game 13-0.
Game One – RWU 12, FSU 4
The Falcons struck first in the top of the opening inning when Tyler Fonck drove in Joseph Abt with a sacrifice fly to give Fitchburg State a 1-0 lead. The Hawks responded in the bottom half of the inning. Luke Miele (Wellesley, Mass.) came around to score on a passed ball to tie the game before Nick Dimaso (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) drew a bases-loaded walk that brought home Jack Tubman (Bellingham, Mass.) to give the Hawks a 2-1 advantage.
The Hawks broke the game open in the third inning, plating eight runs. Sam Arcieri (Westwood, N.J.) started the rally with a two-run home run to left center, the first of his career. Later in the inning, Noah Hester (Old Saybrook, Conn.) drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run before Miele delivered the biggest swing of the day, launching his first career grand slam to left field to push the Hawks ahead 9-1. Roger Williams added one more run in the inning on a wild pitch to cap the eight-run frame and extend their lead to 10-1.
Fitchburg State attempted to rally in the fourth inning, scoring three runs highlighted by a two-run single to right center from Abt and moving the deficit to 10-4. The Hawks added insurance runs in the sixth inning when Miele singled through the left side to drive in two and extending the lead to 12–4.
The Hawks finished with 11 hits in the game. Miele led the offensive effort with a 3-for-5 performance, driving in six runs including a grand slam. Arcieri added a two-run home run, while Casey DeLorenzo (East Greenwich, R.I.) collected three hits and scored twice. Braden Ventura (Swansea, Mass.) also recorded two hits in the victory.
Michael Williams (Peabody, Mass.) started on the mound for Roger Williams, allowing four runs over 3.2 innings while striking out five. Daniel McDonnell (Southampton, N.Y.) earned the win in relief, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings and striking out seven.
Game Two – RWU 13, FSU 0
Roger Williams opened the scoring when Dimaso launched a two-run home run to left field, the first of his career, for a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, Will Florio (San Jose, Calif.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in Hester before a wild pitch allowed Miele to score, giving the Hawks a 4-0 advantage.
The Hawks blew the game open in the sixth inning, plating nine runs on seven hits. Dimaso began the rally with an RBI triple to left center, and DeLorenzo followed with an RBI single to extend the lead. Miele added an RBI single and Hester scored on a wild pitch before Florio delivered a two-run double to left center. Elvin Espinal (Union, N.J.) chipped in with an RBI single and Arcieri scored on another wild pitch, while Rory Lynch (Easton, Conn.) capped the inning with an RBI single to push the score to 13–0.
Roger Williams finished the game with 11 hits. Espinal led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance and scored three runs, while Dimaso went 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, and three RBIs. Miele added two hits and two runs scored, while DeLorenzo also collected two hits in the victory.
On the mound, Matthew Donovan (Stoneham, Mass.) earned the win after tossing five scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out four. Branden Steinberg (Schuylerville, N.Y.) and Hugh Cyhowski (Erving, Mass.) combined for the final two scoreless innings to complete the shutout, allowing just one hit while striking out one.
Roger Williams (4-4, 0-0 CNE) will return to action on Saturday, Mar.14 against Wheaton to close out their spring break trip.
