Salve Regina earns split with Roger Williams

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University senior Brandon Bursie (Smithfield, R.I.) pitched a three-hitter in the nightcap of a The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) doubleheader with Roger Williams University that allowed the Seahawks to split with their in-state rival Hawks today on Reynolds Field. Salve Regina (7-11; 3-3 TCCC) won Game Two, 7-1, after Roger Williams (7-9; 3-1 TCCC) had won the opener, 8-3.

Junior Nicholas Politelli (Warwick, R.I.) and senior Sam Podbelski (East Greenwich, R.I.) had been locked in a scoreless pitchers' dual through the first four innings of Game 1. Politelli, who had allowed just one hit through four innings, got some fine leather from his outfield mates in the 4th. Leftfielder Matt Capone (Barrington, R.I.) made a diving catch to reach a ball in the gap while centerfielder Patrick Quinn (Middletown, N.J.) raced away from home plate to snare a Mike Thomas (Plainville, Conn.) line drive with a full-stretched dive.

The Hawks reached Politelli for seven hits in the 5th and plated six runs. John Oppenhimer (Westport, Conn.) singled home two runs to break the scoreless tie. Tim Georgen (Bristol, Conn.) singled down the left field line for another run. Zach Porter (Middleboro, Mass.) and Thomas, who were robbed on successive at bats by Capone and Quinn in the previous frame, contributed RBI singles.

Salve Regina got single runs in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings. The run in the 5th came unearned off Podbelski who allowed a leadoff double to Bursie in the 6th. Bursie came home on a ground out to the right side by Devin Flynn (Auburn, Maine). Senior infielder Tom Glynn (Woodbridge, Conn.) singled through the left side in the 7th to bring home Salve Regina's final run of Game One.

Podbelski improved his record to 2-0.

Roger Williams had runners at the corners with no outs in the 2nd inning of Game Two but managed just one score on a sacrifice fly.

In the Salve Regina 2nd, Quinn tripled in Capone with two outs. Catcher Dominic Di Sano (Central Falls, R.I.) followed with full-count single to center field for the go-ahead run.

Alex Melcher (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) led off the Seahawk 3rd with a triple to right field where the slowly setting sun was becoming an issue. Charles Matarazzo (Montville, N.J.) delivered a sacrifice fly before Glynn reached base with a double. Michael O'Neill (Pawtucket, R.I.) singled through the left side to move Glynn to third before he came home on a Capone sacrifice fly.

Quinn led off the 4th with a single and came home on a two-out single by Melcher. Quinn scored his third run of the game when Melcher had a two-run double in the Seahawk 6th.

Bursie got a critical double-play grounder in the Roger Williams 6th when the Seahawks where nursing a 5-1 lead. The senior righty picked up his first win in three decisions.

"When you win three out of four that's a good weekend," remarked head coach Steve Cirella whose Seahawks swept a pair against Colby-Sawyer College yesterday. "And getting three complete games from three senior pitchers (Bursie today, Quinn and Matarazzo yesterday) is so invaluable."

Salve Regina hosts another in-state rival on Thursday when Johnson & Wales University visits Newport (3:30 p.m.) while Roger Williams hosts Rhode Island College on Wednesday.