Baseball Drops Conference Opening Pair at Roger Williams

BRISTOL, R.I. (March 26, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team fell on the road in their conference opening games at Roger Williams University, falling 7-4 and 4-2 in the doubleheader, respectively. 

Records:

• Western New England: 8-4-1 (0-2 CCC)
• Roger Williams: 3-10 (2-0 CCC)

Pitching Records (Game 1): 

• W: Nick Gleason: 1-1
• L: Troy Donohue: 0-1

Pitching Records (Game 2): 

• W: Louie Mosca: 1-0
• L: Robert Zawacki: 1-1

How it Happened (Game 1): 

The one-win Hawks of Roger Williams got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning after Matt Favley led off the game with a single, which he then followed up with a stolen base and advancement on a WNE error and would quickly be punched in on an RBI ground out to give Roger Williams an early 1-0 lead. Western New England would counter that with a two-run second inning to take their first lead of the game. After a walk to Henry Schowerer, Aaron Cole would single to right field and Kohtaro Shimada would follow with a double down the right field line, grabbing two RBIs to get the Golden Bears on the board, leading 2-1. 

Roger Williams would come back and take their lead back in the bottom of the third inning after Matt Favley reached on a fielder's choice to score a run and a sacrifice fly would score another for the Hawks as they would make WNE SP Kevin Hummer work for outs through the first three innings. Scoring would stall from there as both Hummer and Roger Williams starter Dan Massaro would blank the scoreboard. It was not until the seventh inning of the game when the Golden Bears would grab their next run of the game when Henry Schowerer would lead off with a double to right field while Kohtaro Shimada would pick up his third RBI of the game to even the score at three with an RBI groundout. 

Western New England would grab their second lead of the game in the top of the eighth inning when Cody Waterbury converted on a sacrifice fly after Paul Villecco reached on a RWU error, while CJ willis would advance Villecco on a single. Roger Williams would take exception, responing with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning after a hit by a pitch and bases clearing double would be all the Hawks would need to take a three-run lead with three out remaining in the game. The Golden Bears would threaten with two base hits in the top of the ninth though Roger Williams relief pitcher Nick Gleason would close to the door on WNE, sending Roger Williams to their first win in CCC play and second win of the season. 

Around the Horn:

• Kevin Hummer went the first seven innings for WNE giving up five hits and three runs, two earned, while walking one and struck out six. 
• Kohtaro Shimada collected two hits and three RBIs to lead WNE. 
• Roger Williams was led by Owen Hibbard, who collected the bases clearing three RBI double to win the game for the Hawks. 
• Roger Williams has won five in a row over WNE, though WNE leads the all-time series 38-21. 

How it Happened (Game 2): 

Looking for a revenge game to take a split back to Springfield, Western New England got good starting pitching from Jared Kuryan to get the Golden Bears off on the right foot. The first run would not be scored until the fourth inning when WNE's Paul Villecco flied out to right field, which scored Aaron Cole after the center fielder reached on a single earlier in the inning as the Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead. 

Jared Kuryan went the first five innings for WNE throwing 93 pitches, giving up three hits and no runs while walking two and striking out six batters. Roger Williams would bounce back in the bottom of the seventh inning off Robert Zawacki and explode for four runs in the inning to take a 4-1 lead. Matt Massaro led the charge with a single that scored two runs for the Hawks. Western New England would look to gain ground in the eighth after that first two runners would reach base. Aaron Cole would pick up a walk while Kohtaro Shimada would be hit by a pitch. The bases would fill with one out before CJ Willis would ground out to short stop, sending one run to the plate, cutting the WNE deficit to just two runs. Alex Slezak would hold RWU at bay in the bottom of the eighth, leaving the comeback for the top of the ninth for WNE. Unfortunately, the ninth inning would not go as planned, as WNE went down 1-2-3 to wrap up their opening CCC series, losing both games of the DH. 

Around the Horn:

• WNE punched five hits together in the game with Jack Loftus collecting two of those. 
• Western New England left 13 runners on base in the game. 
• A big four-run seventh inning did in the Golden Bears as the Hawks would prevail to move to 2-0 in CCC play this season. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE looks to quickly bounce back, playing Westfield State University at home tomorrow, Monday, March 27 at 3:30 PM.