Rhode Island College Rallies For 7-6 Win Over Baseball

Providence, RI --- Rhode Island College scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn the 7-6 walk-off triumph over Worcester State in non-conference baseball action at Anchorman Field.

With Rhode Island College (5-15) trailing by five entering the top of the sixth, sophomore Kyle Morvan (Smithfield, RI) and senior Kyle Mann (W. Warwick, RI) combined for four scoreless frames of two-hit relief to help the hosts post the come-from-behind victory.

In the bottom of the sixth, freshman Justin Costa (Cranston, RI) doubled in junior Justin Rainville (Cumberland, RI), who led off the frame with a two-bagger, before sophomore Dean Grasso (Cranston, RI) blasted his first home run of the season to right field to help make the score 6-3 in the seventh.

Senior Kevin Carey (Wakefield, RI) and Grasso started their ninth-inning rally with singles as they came around to score on wild pitches. After junior Alex Verrechia (Cranston, RI) was plunked, third-year relief pitcher Rob MacDonald (Waltham, MA) induced a fly-out for the second out of the inning.

But Costa kept the line moving with a single to right and then, after a wild pitch put both runners at second and third, the Anchormen scored the game-winning runs on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder to end the contest.

Worcester State (5-11) originally jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the top of the second when they took advantage of several miscues in the infield. Senior Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA) highlighted the frame with a sacrifice fly and sophomore David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) chipped in with an RBI single.

RIC freshman Matt Foley (Seekonk, MA) jacked his third homer of the year in the bottom of the third to help get the Anchormen on the board, but the Lancers plated a pair of runs over the next two innings.

First-year Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) had a run-producing saftey with two outs in the fourth and then sophomore Zach George (Attleboro, MA) notched an RBI base-knock to help make the score 6-1 in the top of the fifth.  

The comeback by the hosts spoiled a strong outing for sophomore Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) who yielded two earned runs in six innings of work to go with 10 hits, five strikeouts and a trio of walks.

MacDonald (0-1) shouldered the setback for the Lancers while Mann tossed the top of the ninth to up his record to 2-1.

Wallace was 3-for-4 for the Blue and Gold while Ruggeiro and senior Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) both pitched in with two base-knocks each. Gezotis also notched his 100th collegiate hit with a single to left in the second inning. Freshman Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, MA) also crossed home plate twice.

Grasso registered three base-knocks in the win and he added two runs. Carey, Costa, sophomore Tyler Collins (Cranston, RI) and senior Zach Hubbard (Kissimee, FL) contributed two hits to an attack that out-hit the Lancers, 15-11.

Both squads will play non-conference opponents on Thursday. Worcester State hosts UMass Dartmouth at 3:30 while Rhode Island College heads to Waltham to play Brandeis at 3 o'clock.