BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team erupted offensively in a dominant 19–7 victory over Johnson & Wales (RI) on Tuesday afternoon at Paolino Field.
Roger Williams wasted no time getting on the board, breaking the game open in the first inning when Braden Ventura (Swansea, Mass.) launched a grand slam to left field, giving the Hawks an immediate 4–0 lead. The early momentum carried into the second, where RWU added four more runs behind RBI hits from Devin Driscoll (Portsmouth, N.H.), Noah Hester (Old Saybrook, Conn.), and a sacrifice fly from Casey DeLorenzo (East Greenwich, R.I.) to extend the lead to 8–0.
Johnson & Wales responded with a four-run fourth inning to cut into the deficit, highlighted by a three-RBI double, but the Hawks answered emphatically in the bottom half of the frame.
Roger Williams put the game out of reach with a massive 11-run fourth inning, collecting nine hits in the frame. Will Florio (San Jose, Calif.) drove in two runs with a single, Sam Arcieri (Westwood, N.J.) added a two-RBI hit, and Hester capped the rally with a two-run single. Ventura, Tubman, and DeLorenzo all contributed RBI during the inning as the Hawks stretched the lead to 19–4.
JWU added three runs in the sixth inning, but the outcome was never in doubt as Roger Williams closed out the 19–7 win.
The Hawks finished with 19 hits and 19 runs, showcasing a complete offensive effort. Ventura led the way with the grand slam and four RBI, while also drawing three walks, while Hester totaled three RBI and two hits. Driscoll added three hits and two RBI, and Arcieri contributed three hits and two RBI. Tubman also chipped in with two hits and two RBI.
On the mound, DeLorenzo earned the win, striking out seven over five innings, while Daniel McDonnell (Southampton, N.Y.) provided two scoreless innings of relief to close out the game.
Roger Williams improves to 16–18 overall and 9–7 in CNE play, will travel to Rhode Island College tomorrow, Apr. 29th, for a 3:30 PM game. The Hawks will then travel to Western New England on Saturday, May 2 to round out the regular season.
