BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team downed visiting Suffolk University in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon by a score of 7-3.
The Hawks put the first score across in the bottom of the first, as Grant Bolin (Simsbury, Conn.) came in on an RBI fielder’s choice by Ryan MacCarthy (Middleton, Mass.). On the next batter, Zach Porter (Middleboro, Mass.) scored on an RBI single by Matthew Roche (Bristol, Conn.) to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead. In the third, the Hawks added another run as Matt Swensen (Charlton, Mass.) came in on a wild pitch to give RWU a three-run lead.
The Rams picked up their first run of the contest in the top of the third, starting with a one-out triple by Nick Travelyn (Bedford, N.H.). Rory Gentile (Gloucester, Mass.) would bring him home in the next at-bat with a sac fly to left field. Roger Williams would respond with two in their half of the inning, thanks to a two-run dinger to left field off the bat of Tony Trafecanty (Franklin, Mass.).
The 5-1 score would remain until the top of the fifth, in which Suffolk plated another run in the inning. Mark Annese (Winchester, Mass.) scored from second on an RBI double from Travelyn to make it 5-2. Yet a sacrifice fly from Tim Georgen (Bristol, Conn.) in the sixth maintained the Hawks’ four-run lead. Swensen scored on the fly ball to left in the frame and would later put RWU up 7-2 in the eighth, coming in on an RBI groundout by Georgen.
With a five-run lead entering the top of the ninth, the game looked in hand before Suffolk mounted a late rally, beginning the inning with back-to-back singles by Andrew Babb (Hopkinton, Mass.) and Jhonneris Mendez (Roslindale, Mass.). The Hawks were able to get a strikeout and a fly out to center field before Travelyn came through with his second RBI double of the game, pulling the Rams within four.
After the double, Billy Dunn (Fiskdale, Mass.) entered the game, facing Gentile with runners at second and third. Gentile hit a weak flair to center that Georgen made a diving catch to end the rally and give the Hawks the win.
Ben O’Shea (Reading, Mass.) earned his first collegiate win, going seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with four strikeouts. Logan Hartman (Fairfield, Conn.) pitched 1.2 innings of relief, giving up a run, while Dunn needed one out for his first save of the year. Swensen finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored, while Roche went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Mike Dixon (Medford, Mass.) took the loss, giving up five runs in 2.1 innings. Travelyn finished 3-for-4 with a triple and two doubles to go along with two RBI and a run.
Roger Williams (4-16) travels to Western New England College Saturday for a noon doubleheader, while Suffolk (9-10) plays Emerson College Saturday, also at noon.
(Portions of this story courtesy of Roger Williams Athletic Communications)