BRISTOL, R.I. – Playing at Paolino Field for the first time in the 2022 season, the Roger Williams University Baseball team opened their Commonwealth Coast Conference slate of games with a sweep of Nichols College on Saturday. Justin Garcia matched his career-high, piling up 15 strikeouts across seven shutout innings to lead the Hawks to a 4-2 win in game one while in game two, Christopher Flynn (Randolph, N.J.) smashed a pair of long balls in a 10-5 RWU victory.

After dropping their first game of the season to WPI on Tuesday, Roger Williams got right back on track in their first two matchups against conference foes, improving to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in CCC play. The Bison, meanwhile, fall to 5-9 on the year and 0-2 in conference matchups.

In game one, Garcia got the win for the Hawks as he excelled through seven innings of work, allowing just a single hit and while he did walk four no Bison crossed the plate against him as he improved to 3-0. Justin Hurley (Burlington, Mass.) got the nod for Nichols and while he was impressive in 7.0+ innings of work he took the loss to fall to 2-2. He ended up allowing three runs, all earned, on eight hits, walking just one, while striking out five.

Chris Flynn (Naugatuck, Conn.) took the ball in game two for RWU and while he matched Garcia's innings total, it was a much more difficult road for the right-hander though he nonetheless got the win to move to 3-0. Flynn allowed four runs, only one of them earned, despite not walking a man and only surrendering four hits while striking out eight. Sean Ryan (Hopedale, Mass.) got the start for the guests and ended up falling to 1-1 after allowing seven runs, all of them earned, on eight hits and three walks though he did pile up nine strikeouts.

Hawk Highlights

Game 1

Jack Morin: 1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI

Matt Massaro: 2-for-4, SB, RBI, RS

Tyler Cedeno: 3-for-4, SB, RS

Brandon Jenkins: 1-for-3, SB, BB, RS

Justin Garcia: (W, 3-0), 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 15 K

For The Opponents

DJ Caron: 1-for-3, BB, RBI

Tyler St. Onge: 1-for-4, RBI

Nathaniel Cormier: 1-for-4, RS

Brennan Hyde: 0-for-3, BB, RS

Justin Hurley: (L, 2-2), 7.0+ IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

How It Happened

The first five innings of game one flew by in uneventful fashion as Justin Garcia (Foxborough, Mass.) and Justin Hurley (Burlington, Mass.) traded zeros. Garcia surrendered a double to the first batter of the game, Johnny Knox (Jefferson, N.J.), but he would not allow another hit for the remainder of his outing. Knox would reach third on a passed ball, but he would be the only runner to get within 90 feet of scoring while the Roger Williams southpaw was on the mound. Nichols got a runner into scoring position with a walk and a steal in the third and then with back-to-back walks in the fourth but never really threatened to score. Meanwhile, Hurley held RWU to just two hits over the first five innings in part thanks to some stellar glove work most notably in the second inning. Christopher Flynn (Randolph, N.J.) drove a ball to dead centerfield but was robbed of at least two bases by DJ Caron (Biddeford, Maine) who made an incredible sliding, over-the-shoulder catch on the run at the deepest part of the park.

The Hawks would finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth thanks to some small ball. Owen Hibbard (Roxbury, Conn.) got the rally started with a single back through the box before Tyler Cedeno (Maynard, Mass.) dropped down a bunt that was intended as a sacrifice, but he legged it out for a hit as the throw by Nathaniel Cormier (Sandisfield, Mass.) sailed down the line allowing both runners to advance. Matt Massaro (Fairfield, Conn.) followed with a safety squeeze play that plated Hibbard and as Hurley went to field the ball he slipped and fell allowing Massaro to beat out the bunt hit as well. Jack Morin (North Andover, Mass.) pitched in a sacrifice fly a couple of batters later and the Hawks had the advantage.

Nichols got the leadoff runner on base with a single by Isaac Blanford (Fayetteville, N.Y.) as RWU brought Kyle Schaefer (Madison, Conn.) out of the bullpen to start the eighth. Blanford was erased as he was caught stealing on a botched hit-and-run play, then a strikeout and a groundout later and the 2-0 lead was maintained.

Roger Williams added some insurance runs that would end up being important in the home half. Massaro singled into center ending Hurley's outing as the Bison brought in Owen Sullivan for the left-on-left matchup. He made an error on a pick-off attempt allowing Massaro to advance before Brandon Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) used the opposite field to get a single prompting the second pitching change in as many batters as Clark Churchill (Windsor, Conn.) entered. Jenkins swiped second on a superb dirtball read then Morin cashed in blasting a double over the centerfielder's head plating two runs and doubling the lead in the process. RWU would load the bases but got no more runs in frame, but the damage was done.

Adam Harz (Manchester, Conn.) came on to try and lock it down but Cormier singled, Brennan Hyde (Tampa, Fla.) walked, and then Caron got the visitors on the board with a single. Harz fanned the next two men before Tyler St. Onge (Plainville, Conn.) singled in another run making the score 4-2. With the tying run now on base and the go-ahead run at the plate, Harz put an end to things by inducing a fielder's choice as the Hawks claimed game one.

Game 2

Christopher Flynn: 3-for-4, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 RS

Jack Morin: 1-for-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 3 RS

Matt Massaro: 2-for-3, RBI, RS

Brandon Jenkins: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, RS

Chris Flynn: (W, 3-0), 7.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

For The Opponents

DJ Caron: 3-for-4, SB, 2 RBI, RS

Andrew Croteau: 1-for-4, 2B, RS

Nathaniel Cormier: 1-for-4, 2B, RS

Kevin Murphy: 1-for-4, 2B, RS

Sean Ryan: (L, 1-1), 5.0 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 9 K

How It Happened

At the outset of game two, it looked like we were looking for a repeat of the first contest as Chris Flynn (Naugatuck, Conn.) and Sean Ryan (Hopedale, Mass.) each posted zeros in the first two innings, but then things got crazy. Kevin Murphy (Springfield, Mass.) hit a gap-shot into the right-center field alley that went in-and-out of the glove of Tyler Cedeno (Maynard, Mass.) for a two-base error. Isaac Blanford (Fayetteville, N.Y.) followed by dropping down a sacrifice bunt but the throw by Flynn got away allowing Blanford to advance to second and Murphy to score. After a successfully defended sacrifice bunt advanced Blanford to third, Andrew Croteau (Reading, Mass.) hit a comebacker to Flynn. He gloved it and opted to try and get Blanford scampering back to third. His throw got away and while Blanford did not advance it was controversially ruled that the throw went out of play allowing the run to come home. Flynn escaped further damage, but the Bison had the 2-0 edge without the benefit of a hit.

The hosts got one back in the bottom of the frame as Mike Masino (Bayville, N.J.) led off with a single, advanced on a wild pitch and came home on a Matt Massaro (Fairfield, Conn.) single that snuck under the glove of Johnny Knox (Jefferson, N.J.) and into right field. The Hawks then tied things in the fourth as Jack Morin (North Andover, Mass.) drew a free pass, Christopher Flynn (Randolph, N.J.) doubled, and Masino brought in the run with an RBI groundout.

RWU finally had the breakthrough inning they had been seeking all day in the fifth and it was once again the freshman, Owen Hibbard (Roxbury, Conn.), who lit the fuse. He reached on an infield single and Massaro singled two batters latter putting two on with one out. Brandon Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) gave RWU the lead by dumping a two-bagger into left against the swung-around Nichols outfield then Morin extended the lead with a two-run single. Two batters later and transfer Christopher Flynn, who was making his Bristol debut, announced his presence to the Hawks faithful with a bang. He obliterated an 1-0 fastball well over the rightfield fence for his first RWU home run to make the lead 7-2.

Nichols responded, getting two back in the sixth. Nathaniel Cormier (Sandisfield, Mass.) started with a double into right and scored two batters later on an infield single by DJ Caron (Biddeford, Maine). Things really got weird as Caron swiped second but the throw by Morin got away allowing him to take third. Cedeno scooped the ball in center and tried to get Caron advancing but then his throw rolled away and all of a sudden one stolen base turned into a run scored for the Bison.

RWU added to their cushion in the seventh and it was once again Christopher Flynn who delivered the blow. Morin drew a free pass then Nick Zobian (Califon, N.J.) scorched a pinch-hit single into left setting the stage for Flynn who, for the second-consecutive pitch, went deep, this time with a line drive shot out to right to make the lead 10-4.

Nichols got one back off Connor Hewlette (Deer Park, N.Y.) in the eighth on a Caron RBI single but then Hewlette and Nick Harper (Westwood, N.J.) combined for a flawless ninth to clinch the double-header sweep, 10-5.

Coach's Corner

Game one was dominated by Justin Garcia! Anytime you strike out 15 hitters, limit freebies, and play clean you put yourself in a good position to win. That is what happened today.

Offensively we struggled a little bit in game one, but we found a way to generate runs either by bunting, squeezing, or making productive outs and it was enough to win.

Game two was similar story on the mound. Flynn shoved today! He put himself in a little bit of a hole with a couple fielding miscues early in the game but was able to minimize the damage and pitch out of it. The biggest takeaway from game two was we, as a pitching staff, had no walks!!

Offensively game two was much different then game one. We woke up the sticks and came out swinging. Christopher Flynn had a great game with going 3-4 with two home runs, one which is still flying. He really carried the offense today.

Anytime you sweep a conference opponent it is a good day. We will enjoy these wins today but have to get ready for our next opponent starting tomorrow. 12-1 today but 0-0 tomorrow. On Bridgewater State.

What's Next

Roger Williams opens a difficult week of games that sees them host a trio of regionally ranked foes when Bridgewater State makes the trip to Bristol on Tuesday. First pitch between the Hawks and the Bears is set for 3:00 PM.