Hawks blank AMCATS to sweep TCCC doubleheader

PAXTON, Mass. (04.12.11) – Senior PJ Gouthro (Walpole, Mass.) tossed a complete game shutout in game one, while freshman Eric Diffily (North Reading, Mass.) tossed five scoreless innings and combined with two other pitchers on a two-hit shutout in the night cap, as the Roger Williams baseball team swept a The Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader at Quinsigamond Community College on Tuesday afternoon. The Hawks took game one by a score of 3-0, before sweeping the twin-billing with a 2-0 victory in game two. With the sweep, the Hawks improve to 14-15 (9-5 TCCC) on the season, while the pair of losses knock the AMCATS down to 16-12 (9-7) overall.

Gouthro was brilliant in his game one start, striking out seven batters while allowing just four hits over seven strong innings of work to improve to 1-2 on the year. Diffily did his best to match Gouthro's game one performance, going five scoreless frames while allowing just two hits to move to 1-4 on the season. Offensively, the Hawks were paced by junior Trevor Manzi (Beverly, Mass.) who went 3-for-7 on the day with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Senior Zach Porter (Middleboro, Mass.) also collected three hits, finishing 3-for-5 in the double-dip, while freshman Mike Pascarella (Milford, Conn.) delivered what turned out to be the game-winning home run in the night cap with a two-run shot in the fifth inning to break up a scoreless tie.

Junior Dean Diamantopoulos (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and sophomore Justin Hyland (Spencer, Mass.) were both tough-luck losers after a pair of fine pitching performances for the AMCATS. Diamantopoulos went the distance in game one, striking out six batters while allowing just one earned run to take his first loss of the season, dropping his record to 3-1. Hyland also pitched a complete-game for the AMCATS in the night cap, taking the loss despite not allowing a single earned run. At the plate, Anna Maria was led by senior Andy Fallon (Worcester, Mass.), who finished the day 2-for-5 with a double.

The Hawks jumped on the board with an unearned run in the top of the first to start game one. After Manzi singled to start the inning, a misplayed grounder up the middle put runners on first and second with no outs. After a fly out, Porter singled through the left side to load the bases. Freshman Mike Thomas (Plainville, Conn.) followed with a sacrifice fly to center, driving home Manzi with the game's first run.

The Hawks expanded their lead to 2-0 by adding another run in the top of the second. Freshman TJ Oliver got things started with a one out single, and after moving into scoring position on a ground out, Manzi brought him home with an RBI-single to left.

A misplayed liner to left led to an insurance run for the Hawks in the top of the seventh, and that was more than enough for Gouthro on the mound, who put the finishing touches on a brilliant outing to seal the 3-0 win.

Game two featured another pitcher's duel as AMC's Justin Hyland and RWU's Eric Diffily matched each other pitch-for-pitch over four scoreless frames to begin the game.

A costly AMC error opened the door for the Hawks in the top of the fifth, as Oliver reached base on a dropped fly ball to leadoff the frame. After a sac bunt and a strikeout, the Hawks made the extra out count, as Pascarella drove in the only two runs of the game with a go-ahead two-run homer down the right field line.

After Diffily completed the fifth, senior Eric Brown (Walpole, Mass.) tossed a perfect sixth in relief, before freshman Tyler Pogmore (Lebanon, Conn.) set the AMCATS down in order in the seventh to preserve the 2-0 win and earn his third save of the season.

Both teams return to action on Thursday, as the Hawks travel to face Wheaton at 3:30 pm, and the AMCATS hit the road to battle Colby-Sawyer in a TCCC doubleheader starting at 2:00 pm.    

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports information