MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Roger Williams University Baseball team suffered a non-conference loss to Eastern Connecticut State University Tuesday evening, falling 4-13 to the Warriors.
The game began in favor of the Hawks, when Kevin Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) knocked a three-run double in the top of the first, then later scored on an RBI groundout by Zach Porter (Middleboro, Mass.) to give RWU an early 4-0 lead.
The four-run lead lasted until the bottom of third when the Warriors got three runs in the inning to cut the gap to one. Robert Perry (Manchester, Conn.) scored Shawn Gilblair (Windham, Conn.) on an fielder’s choice, then Joe Cousineau (Newington, Conn.) hit a two-run double to make it a 4-3 game.
The Hawks held on to their slim one-run lead until the seventh, when Eastern Connecticut State put up three more runs in the inning to go up 6-4. Jim Schult (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) tied the game with an RBI single, then Gilblair gave the Warriors the lead with a two-run home run.
Eastern Connecticut State then put the game out of reach in the eighth after sending 11 batters to the plate in the inning, scoring seven runs to go up by a 13-4 margin towards their 32nd win of the season.
James Kukucka (Vernon, Conn.) earned the win, pitching two innings of relief. Gilblair finished 2-for-4 with three runs and three RBI, with Schult adding two hits, two runs, and two RBI.
Dan Roberge (Oakdale, Conn.) took the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings. Simpson had a hit, a run, and three RBI in four at bats, while Jamie Dahill (South Boston, Mass.) added a hit and a run.
Roger Williams (20-20-1) will close out the regular season Wednesday with a 3:30 p.m. game at Johnson & Wales University, while Eastern Connecticut State (32-6) will host the opening round of the Little East Tournament Thursday against Keene State College at 3:00 p.m.