Baseball Falls Short at Roger Williams 9-8

Bristol, RI – The Framingham State University baseball team rallied for seven runs in the top of the ninth inning, but fell just short as they were defeated 9-8 this afternoon by Roger Williams University at Paolino Field.

With loss, the Rams are now 13-16 on the year, while the Hawks improve to 10-19.

Framingham State trailed 9-1 entering the top of the ninth and proceeded to put up seven runs on the board thanks to a combination of timely hitting and Hawk miscues. However, Roger Williams was finally able to get the game-ending out before the tying run crossed the plate.

RWU struck first, notching four runs in the second inning. Sean Gaffney (Simsbury, Conn.) picked up an RBI single to score Danny Roth and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Joey Gulino (Meriden, Conn.). Shane Nowak (Litchfield, N.H.) pulled off a successful double steal to score from third, while Dan McClellan (Tolland, Mass.) came in on a wild pitch.

Framingham State got on the board in the fourth with Jordan Pallazola (Rockport, Mass.) scoring on an RBI single by Ryan Wardwell (Hudson, Mass.). However, the Hawks came back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning from McClellan and Tyler Brett (Hebron, Conn.).

RWU added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth and appeared to be cruising towards an easy win. However, Framingham State rallied in the top of the ninth to put a scare in the Hawks.

Roger Williams committed three errors in the top of the ninth, leading to seven runs for the Rams in the inning. Joe Ambrosino (Bradenton, Fla.) knocked a two-out, two-run double just inside the right field line to pull Framingham State within one and put the tying run in scoring position. However on the next at-bat, the Hawks were finally able to get a fly out to center to end the game and get the win.  Wardwell recorded an RBI double in the inning and junior Kyle Pileski (Bristol, Conn.) added an RBI ground out.

Justin Garcia (Foxborough, Mass.) picked up the win, allowing only one run in 6.2 innings with a career-high ten strikeouts. Gaffney finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Chris Bosco (North Andover, Mass.) was 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.

Josh Jezouit allowed six runs (four earned) in four innings in the loss. Wardwell, Kyle Dembrowski (Natick, Mass.), and Robert Higgins (Barnstable, Mass.) each went 2-for-4 with a run scored, with Wardwell adding two RBIs.

Roger Williams (10-19) heads to MIT tomorrow, while Framingham State (13-16) hosts Johnson & Wales on Friday.

Release courtesy of RWU Sports Information