SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team earned a fifth-place finish in the Conference of New England (CNE) standings following a hard-fought doubleheader against Western New England on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks dropped game one 11-8 before falling in a tight 5-4 decision in game two to close out the regular season.
Game One: Western New Eng. 11, RWU 8
The Hawks came out swinging early, plating three runs in the opening inning. Jack Tubman (Bellingham, Mass.) delivered a two-RBI single, and Casey DeLorenzo (East Greenwich, R.I.)) followed with an RBI single to give Roger Williams a 3-0 lead.
Western New England answered immediately, tying the game in the bottom half of the first before taking control with three runs in the second inning to go up 6-3.
Roger Williams responded with a big third inning, scoring four runs to regain a 7-6 advantage. Braden Ventura (Swansea, Mass.) highlighted the frame with an RBI double, while Will Florio (San Jose, Calif.) and Rory Lynch (Easton, Conn.) each drove in runs to cap the rally.
After the Golden Bears tied the game in the fourth, Ventura delivered again in the fifth inning, launching a solo home run to even the score at 8-8.
The game remained deadlocked until the eighth inning, when Western New England broke through with three runs to take an 11-8 lead and ultimately secure the win.
Roger Williams totaled 12 hits in the contest, led by Ventura, who went 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, and two RBI. Tubman added two RBI, while Lynch and DeLorenzo each contributed a run driven in.
Game Two: Western New Eng. 5, RWU 4
Western New England struck first in the opening inning, scoring twice before adding another run in the second to take a 3-0 lead.
The Hawks chipped away in the fifth inning, as Lynch and Sam Arcieri Westwood, N.J.) each recorded sacrifice flies to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Roger Williams took its first lead of the game in the sixth inning. Tubman reached on an error to bring home a run, and Devin Driscoll (Portsmouth, N.H.) followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Hawks a 4-3 advantage.
The Golden Bears answered in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game before reclaiming the lead on an RBI single later in the frame.
The Hawks threatened late but were unable to complete the comeback, as Western New England held on for the 5-4 victory.
Roger Williams recorded six hits in the contest, with Noah Hester (Old Saybrook, Conn.) leading the way with two hits and a run scored. Driscoll added an RBI, while Nick Dimaso (Cortlandt Monor, N.Y.) scored once and recorded a double.
On the mound, the Hawks received solid relief efforts to keep the game within reach, but the early deficit proved to be the difference.
Roger Williams concludes the regular season with a 16-21 overall record and a 9-9 mark in conference play, earning the No. 5 seed in the CNE Tournament.
