Waves Drop Home Opener to Danbury in High-Scoring Matchup

The Ocean State Waves dropped their homeopener against the Danbury Westerners with a final score of 20-1.

Following a hard-fought 4-2 loss to the Bristol Blues on Thursday, the Waves returned home looking to bounce back in their home opener against the Danbury Westerners. However, an eight-run eighth inning proved to be the difference as the Westerners pulled away for a 18-1 victory.

Arizona's Benton Hickman made his first start of the season on the mound for the Waves. Ahead of the matchup, Hickman spoke about what earning the home-opening start meant to him.

"I think this is a good opportunity for me to learn how to start, and with the guys that are out here, it's going to be awesome," Hickman said.

Hickman worked a scoreless first inning, keeping the Westerners off the bases. In the second, Ronan Donohue doubled to right field, but Hickman escaped trouble by striking out two batters.

Meanwhile, Danbury starter Cole Gibson was equally effective early. In the bottom of the second, Samuel Fernandez reached after being hit by a pitch and Cameron Papetti followed with a single to center field, but Gibson retired the next batters to end the inning.

The Westerners broke through in the top of the third when Collin Mowry drove in the game's first run to give Danbury a 1-0 lead.

The Waves looked to respond in the bottom half of the inning as Gavin Marchese singled to center field, but he was thrown out attempting to steal second. Gibson struck out two batters in the frame to preserve the lead.

The Waves turned to Hudson Barton to begin the fourth. Barton delivered a scoreless inning before Dylan McCarthy took over on the mound in the fifth.

Danbury threatened again in the fifth. Aidan Stern and Kyle Grabowski recorded back-to-back singles before Grabowski stole second and Stern advanced to third. Noel Rivera followed with a single to load the bases with one out. Despite the pressure, the Waves escaped without allowing a run.

The Waves put together their best scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fifth. Papetti advanced to third after Jack LaRose reached on a single, and Papetti later scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 1-1.

The game changed dramatically in the top of the sixth.

The Waves brought in Luke Billings, but the Westerners quickly loaded the bases and plated two runs to regain the lead. A bases-loaded walk extended Danbury's advantage to 4-1 before Brennan Confreda entered in relief. The Westerners continued to capitalize, adding another run on a walk and two more before the inning came to an end, taking a 7-1 lead.

The Waves attempted to answer in the bottom of the inning. Brodey Bitove singled and Max Farrell followed with a drive to center field, putting two runners on base with no outs. However, the Waves were unable to capitalize and remained behind by six runs.

Danbury extended its lead in the seventh inning when Teddy Cashman launched a two-run home run, scoring Mowry and making it 9-1. Later in the inning, Rivera added a home run to push the lead to 10-1.

The Waves were held scoreless in the bottom half of the seventh, sending the game into the eighth.

At the start of the eighth, the Waves turned to Jack Smith on the mound. Mowry extended the gap with a three-run home run, and the Westerners continued to build on the offense, scoring eight more runs to lead the game 18-1.

The Waves were unable to respond in the bottom of the inning, and Danbury added two more runs in the ninth to cap off a 20-1 victory.

Despite the loss, Hickman, who made his first start of the season, remained upbeat about his opportunity both on and off the field in Rhode Island.

"I love it. The weather's amazing, the food is awesome, and just the overall place of Rhode Island is really great," Hickman said.

The Waves will look to get their first win of the season against the Valley Blue Sox on Saturday with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.