DAVENPORT, Fla. — Roger Williams University split a doubleheader with Dominican (Ill.) on Saturday, edging the Stars 3–2 in walk-off fashion in the opener before falling 7–1 in the nightcap during spring break action.
In Game 1, the Hawks rallied late and secured the victory in the bottom of the ninth. With the score tied at 2–2, Braden Ventura led off the inning with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Luke Dowd, who promptly stole second. After Sam Arcieri advanced him to third on a sacrifice bunt, Casey DeLorenzo reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Dowd to cross the plate for the game-winning run.
Roger Williams initially took a 1–0 lead in the fourth inning when Jack Tubman brought home Luke Miele with an RBI groundout. Dominican responded with runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 2–1 advantage before the Hawks tied the game in the seventh. Noah Hester started the rally with a single, moved to third on Will Florio's double, and scored when Arcieri drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Hawks' pitching staff kept Dominican's offense in check throughout the opener. Louie Mosca struck out six across four scoreless innings in the start, while Daniel McDonnell earned the win in relief after tossing 2? shutout innings and closing the door late.
Hester paced the offense with two hits, while Florio added a double. Tubman, Arcieri, and DeLorenzo each recorded RBIs in the win.
Dominican responded strongly in Game 2, using a three-run third inning to seize control and pull away for a 7–1 victory. Ricky Powell highlighted the frame with a three-run double, giving the Stars a 3–1 lead they would not relinquish.
The Stars added two more runs in the fourth on a two-run homer by Marco Stawski and continued to build the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Dominican finished with nine hits in the contest, including multiple extra-base hits.
Roger Williams opened the scoring in the top of the first when Florio singled to drive in Miele, who had reached on a walk and stole second earlier in the inning. The Hawks, however, were limited to four hits the rest of the way as Dominican starter Matthew Hannafin allowed just one run over five innings to earn the win.
Florio led RWU offensively in the second game with a hit and the team's lone RBI, while Sam Arcieri, Cam Daley, and Casey DeLorenzo also recorded hits.
With the split, Roger Williams moved to 2–1 on the season while Dominican also finished the day at 4–1.
