BROCKTON, Mass. – Charlie LaPaglia (Marshfield, Mass.) drove in the deciding run in a two-run bottom of the eighth to give baseball a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Roger Williams University Wednesday afternoon at Campanelli Stadium in a non-conference contest.
LaPaglia's game-clinching hit plated Jamill Moquete (Boston, Mass.) to help the Beacons end a two-game skid and improve their record to 11-12. For the Hawks, Wednesday's loss dropped their record to 19-11. The Marshfield native led UMB as he went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
Matt Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) notched his second win of the year on the hill as he threw two shutout innings, allowing just one walk in that time.
Roger Williams University scored the first run of the day in the top of the first, but the Beacons quickly tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the second on an error by the Hawks. With runners on the corners, Jose Pena (Boston, Mass.) initiated the double steal which prompted the throw down to second. The second baseman cut off the throw and fired the ball back to the catcher, but it did not find its mark allowing LaPaglia to score, while Pena moved over to third.
The Beacons then jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Kyle Szatrowski (Agawam, Mass.). Roger Williams regained the lead in the top of the fifth scoring two runs to make it 3-2 Hawks.
After a scoreless sixth and seventh and top of the eighth, the Beacons got their first of two runs on another Hawks error to tie the game at 3-3. They then scored the game-winner when LaPaglia ripped a single to right field scoring Moquete, who reached on an intentional walk.
In the ninth, Dziok completely shut down the Hawks' bats to give the Beacons the hard fought victory. The senior righty led the Beacons pitching staff which allowed just six hits in the win. Fellow seniors Luca Ilges (Gloucester, Mass.) and Daniel Heefner (Tracy, Calif.) came out of the bullpen and surrendered just four hits and two runs, both of which were unearned. The two also struck out five respectively. Harlan Zeerip (Bridgewater, Conn.) earned the start and went the first two innings.
For the Hawks Jimmy Hamilton was handed his first loss of the year after lasting just a 1/3 of an inning, in which he surrendered the game-winning run. Tyler Campo got the start for Roger Williams and went five innings and struck out five.
Reid Nelson and Mike Pascarella each recorded two hits in the loss, with Pascarella driving in the Hawks two runs in the top of the fifth on a double.
Baseball returns to action tomorrow when they host the College of Mt. St. Vincent (N.Y.) at 12:00 p.m. in Campanelli Stadium.