Box Score NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – Roger Williams University pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the 13th inning to edge the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 5-3 this afternoon in a NCAA Division III baseball contest at Paul Walsh Field.
The Hawks won for the seventh straight time to improve their overall record to 14-16, while the Corsairs slipped to 16-11. UMass Dartmouth had won its previous two extra-inning contests, defeating Little East Conference opponents UMass Boston and Western Connecticut.
Roger Williams led off the 13th frame with a walk and moved pinch runner junior Ryan Corry (Seekonk, Mass.) into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Corry advanced to third on a fielder's choice and scored the eventual game-winning run on a wild pitch. The Hawks added an insurance marker on a RBI-double by junior Kevin Baker (Wilbraham, Mass.).
Sophomore Jimmy Hamilton (Schenectady, N.Y.) allowed just one hit in 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory (2-0). The right-hander retired the side in order in 13th to close out the contest.
Senior George Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) went 4-for-6 with a run scored and RBI to lead UMass Dartmouth's 13-hit attack. Classmate Cory DeMedeiros (Fall River, Mass.) registered three hits, while classmate Ryan Medeiros (Acushnet, Mass.) added a pair of doubles.
The Corsairs snapped a scoreless pitcher's duel in the bottom of the seventh, scoring the opening run on a wild pitch. Sophomore Taylor Cacciola (West Greenwich, R.I.) and freshman Ervin Kantardzic (Roslindale, Mass.) sandwiched singles between a pop fly to the third basemen. Freshman Zach Courier (Mansfield, Mass.) came on to pinch run for Cacciola and scored the opening run with two outs in the inning.
Roger Williams responded with three unearned runs in the top of the eighth. The visitors sent nine hitters to the plate, but benefitted from three defensive miscues and three walks to take their first advantage of the contest.
The see-saw affair continued as UMass Dartmouth forged a 3-all tie with two runs on three hits in the bottom half of the frame. Medeiros ignited the rally with a double down the right field line and scored on an Agostini run-producing single back up the middle. DeMedeiros recorded the third consecutive hit with a base knock through the left side of the infield. The Corsairs executed a sacrifice bunt to put both runners in scoring position. The Hawks loaded the bases with an intentional walk, but the hosts' plated the tying run on a fielder's choice to second. Roger Williams cut down the potential go-ahead run at the plate to escape the jam.
UMass Dartmouth placed the winning run in scoring position between the 10th and 12th innings, but was unable to deliver the timely hit.
Freshman Josh Fickert (Lakeville, Mass.) suffered the setback, allowing two runs on two hits in five innings of relief. He entered the contest in the ninth inning and set down nine consecutive batters in a row before giving up a single in the 12th. Classmate Michael Theriault (Boston, Mass.) turned in his second straight quality start, tossing seven shutout innings. The rookie right-hander scattered seven hits, but recorded a season-high seven strikeouts to escape any jams. He has not allowed an earned run in 12 consecutive innings, dating back to his debut against Division I Bradley University in Florida.
UMass Dartmouth and Roger Williams will resume the home-and-home series tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in Bristol, R.I.
