BRISTOL, R.I. (courtesy RWU sports info) – The Roger
Williams University Baseball team opened the 2008 ECAC Division III
New England Baseball Championship with a 7-1 win Saturday afternoon
over Brandeis University.
John O’Brion (Portland, Maine) gave Brandeis a 1-0 lead in
the first with an RBI double to center field, scoring Tony Deshler
(Pepperell, Mass.). The Hawks responded in the bottom of the inning
with a two-out rally, started by a double by Jamie Dahill (South
Boston, Mass.). Kevin Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) knocked in Dahill
with an RBI single to tie the game at one apiece. Two batters
later, Zach Porter (Middleboro, Mass.) gave the Hawks a 4-1 lead
with a three-run homer to left field.
That three run cushion would be more than enough for Mike Malcolm
(Brockton, Mass.). After surrendering a run on two hits in the
opening frame, Malcolm held the Judges to only two hits over the
next seven innings. Malcolm tossed eight innings of one-run ball,
allowing two walks while striking out five.
The Hawks added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth, two
of which came off the bat of Porter.
Porter ended the game 2-for-3 with a run scored and tied a season
high with five RBI. Simpson, Tony Verrochi (Norwood, Mass.), and
Alex Perry (Glastonbury, Conn.) each added two hits.
Deshler had three of the Judges’ four hits in the game,
going 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. O’Brion was
1-for-4 with the sole RBI for Brandeis.
Brandeis ends the season with an 19-19 overall record. Roger
Williams (33-12) advances to the ECAC Championship game, where the
team will take on the winner of the Massachusetts Maritime
Academy/Wentworth Institute of Technology semifinal. The
championship game is scheduled for noon on Sunday.