The Salve Regina University baseball team swept Johnson & Wales University in a non-conference double header at Pierce Field on Thursday afternoon.  Salve Regina posted a 4-3 victory in the opener and completed the sweep with a 4-0 win in the nightcap.

Salve Regina got on the board first when sophomore Tyler Colby (Easton, Conn.) walked to lead off the fourth and scored on an RBI single by sophomore Dominic Di Sano (Central Falls, R.I.) to make the score 1-0.  The visiting Seahawks increased their lead in the top of the fifth when an RBI double by senior Matt Capone (East Providence, R.I.) made the score 2-0.  Johnson & Wales responded in the bottom of the fifth when senior Sean Radu (Woodbridge, N.J.) led off with a single and scored on a run producing groundout by senior Matt Newsome (Providence, R.I.) to make the score 2-1.  The Wildcats knotted the game at 2-2 on an RBI single by junior James Reyes (Providence, R.I.).  Salve Regina regained the lead on an RBI double by Di Sano, making the score 3-2 and Di Sano came around to score on a sacrifice fly by freshman Matthew Croteau (Chesire, Conn.) giving the Seahawks the 4-2 lead.  JWU rallied in the bottom of the seventh as sophomore Alex Pezzuto (Hastings, N.Y.) was hit with a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring freshman Rob Bocchetti (East Meadow, N.Y.) to make the score 4-3.  It would not be enough, however as the Wildcats left the bases loaded to give Salve Regina the 4-3 victory.  Di Sano was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI in the win for Salve Regina while Bocchetti reached base three times and scored a pair of runs in the loss for the Wildcats.  Freshman Jonathan Atkins (Greenfield, Mass.) recorded the complete-game victory for the Seahawks, giving up three runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

In the nightcap, the two teams battled back and forth through the first three innings before Salve Regina got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Nicholas Barrese (Seaside Park, N.J.) scored on an RBI single by sophomore Anthony Conte (Georgetown, Mass.) for the 1-0 advantage.  A two-run single by sophomore Daniel Donohue (Westbury, N.Y.) then gave the Seahawks the 3-0 lead.  Donohue then scored on a double to left by Capone to make the score 4-0.  The Seahawks would then hold on for the 4-0 victory.  Colby went 2-for-3 in the win for Salve Regina while junior Nicholas Gaj (Pawtucket, R.I.) notched the complete-game victory for the Seahawks, throwing seven scoreless innings on four hits with two strikeouts.

With the two losses JWU is now 22-14 while Salve Regina improves to 12-20 on the season.  The Wildcats will return to action on Friday, April 20th when they travel to St. Joseph's of Maine for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference double header, starting at 2:00 p.m.