The Hendricken Hawks used a seven-run sixth inning to plow past the North Providence Cougars 9-1 on Tuesday night in the opening round of the Division I playoffs.

The starting pitcher for Hendricken, Matt Kennedy, held North Providence to only one run on three hits while recording 11 strikeouts.

“Matt pitched his heart out,” Hendricken head coach Ed Holloway said. “He’s been pitching great for us. When he gets in trouble, he gets tough. He did a real good job in a tight game, keeping his composure and poise and he battled and kept them off the board after that first run.”

Hendricken’s Andrew Flint was 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Anthony Pescarino, the leadoff hitter for North Providence, hit the first pitch he saw for a bomb to left center field for a triple. Next, Eric Arenas grounded out while knocking in the runner, putting North Providence on top 1-0. However, Kennedy got Austin Conte to ground out before striking out Zach Kenney to escape the inning without further damage.

Arenas started on the hill for North Providence.

In the bottom of the inning, Hendricken’s Dante Baldelli led off with a double. With one down, Matt Sweeney hit a single past the first baseman and scored Baldelli from third, tying the game at 1. Next, Arenas walked Brendan Conley. Then, Flint stepped to the plate and hit a single to load the bases for Hendricken. But Arenas would escape the jam. Arenas struck out Tucker Flint, and Nico Salvaggio would fly out to center to end the inning, keeping it a 1-1 game.

In the top of the second, North Providence’s John Owens hit a missile down the first base line for a double. The runner would move to third on a bunt from the next hitter. But, with two outs, Kennedy struck Sam Pappas out looking to escape the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Arenas threw back-to-back walks to Colin McBride and Andrew Hopgood. However, Arenas was able to get out of the inning when he got Baldelli to line out into a double play. Next, Arenas was able to get Elijah Brown to fly out to center to end the second.

Kennedy led off the top of the third inning with a three-pitch strikeout of the first batter. Pescarino got on base due to a passed ball at home, but Kennedy fanned Arenas before getting Conte to ground out to end the top of the third.

In the bottom of the third, Sweeney singled to start. Nonetheless, Hendricken wasn’t able to get anything going in the inning. Conley flew out and Andrew Flint struck out looking. Then, Arenas got Tucker Flint to ground out to end the third.

In the top of the fourth, Kennedy led off by hitting the first batter, Kenney. However, Kennedy was able to retire the next two hitters to escape the inning unscathed.

In the bottom of the inning, Arenas struck out Salvaggio before walking McBride. After retiring Hopgood for the second out, Arenas struck out Baldelli to end the fourth.

Kennedy struck out Pappas to lead off the top of the fifth. After surrendering a hit to the next batter, Kennedy walked Pescarino. Kennedy then buckled down and got Arenas to pop out before striking out Conte to end the threat.

With two down in the bottom of the fifth, Hendricken would break the tie. Conley nailed a double down the third base line. Next, Andrew Flint hit a laser, scoring Conley and giving the Hawks a 2-1 edge.

After a leadoff walk, Kennedy got the next hitter to ground into a double play. Kennedy ended the inning with a three-pitch strikeout of the next batter.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hendricken blew the game wide open.

Salvaggio hit a rocket past the second baseman for a single. Billy Roberge came in to pinch run for Salvaggio. Next, McBride laid down a bunt to move the runner to second. Then, Hopgood beat out a ground ball, and the Hawks had runners on the corners for Baldelli. Baldelli came through with a single to score Roberge and increase the Hendricken lead to 3-1. Next, Brown walked. With runners at first and second, Sweeney worked a walk to load the bases for Conley. On a passed ball at home, Baldelli scored from third, making it 4-1. Next, the hot-hitting Andrew Flint hit a 2-RBI single to score Sweeney and Brown, making it 6-1 Hendricken. After a bloop single from Tucker Flint, Hendricken led 7-1.

North Providence would then dip into its bullpen to try and stop the bleeding. However, Hendricken had other ideas and Salvaggio plated two more runs, making it 9-1.

Kennedy stayed on the hill for the Hawks in the top of the seventh. After an error at short, the first batter got on base. The senior pitcher wouldn’t get disgruntled. Kennedy threw back-to-back strikeouts before getting Pescarino to fly out to end the ball game.

“I felt great,” Kennedy said. “It was tough in the first couple innings and at the end the team came together for me. They always end up doing it for me.”

Kennedy seemed to gain energy throughout the contest.

“Lately, I’ve been getting stronger and stronger as the inning goes on,” Kennedy said. “We’ve been running a lot in practice and getting ready for the playoffs. We just want to win another state championship.” 

The Hawks continued their playoff run on Wednesday with a winners’ bracket game against La Salle, which defeated Lincoln 8-6 on Tuesday.

Results from that game were unavailable at press time.