WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Westfield State University baseball team split a double header with Roger Williams University on Friday, March 15, at Chain of Lakes Park.
The bat (grand slam homer) and arm of Andrew Medeiros led the Owls to a 9-8 victory in the opener. Roger Williams held on for a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.
In the first game, Roger Williams scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-5 lead, but Westfield regained the lead for good on Medeiros' mammoth bases-clearing homer in the sixth inning.
The Owls loaded the bases on singles by hot-hitting Dan Rokitowski, Mike Molta and Kevin Greene. Medeiros then drove a 1-0 pitch deep over the left field fence, into the wind, for his dramatic circuit shot.
In the bottom of the sixth, Roger Williams closed to within a run, 9-8, on Jamie Timothy's bad-hop two-run single over Rokitowski's head at first base. Timothy tried to stretch the hit into a double but Medeiros, playing right field, easily gunned him down for the second out.
Kevin Zyrkowski pitched two complete innings for the pitching save. Starter Mike Sullivan was credited with the victory.
Westfield outhit Roger Williams, 15-11. Rokitowski was 4 for 5 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored and Greene was 2 for 4 with a double and RBI. Medeiros was 2 for 4 with his big 4 RBI. Tyler Adams was 2 for 2 with two runs scored.
The second game was lengthy (two hours, 30 minutes) with the teams stranding 24 runners. Roger Williams left 14 runners on base in the seven-inning game, but it finally came up with the big hit in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run double to deep center field following a hit batter and walk.
An Owls' comeback fell just short in the bottom of the seventh. Rokitowski and Molta rapped one-out singles. Greene smashed a grounder just inside foul line but the third baseman made a spectacular diving grab to rob Greene of a double and get the force out at third base. Medeiros struck out swinging to end the game.
Both teams had nine hits, with Westfield's 2-3-4 batters rapping seven of the safeties. Greene was 2 for 4 with a double and Molta was 3 for 4 with a double. Rokitowski was 2 for 3, giving him six hits in the twinbill.