Panthers fall from LEC Tournament contention

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Gary Levesque went 8-for-11 with three home runs and eight runs batted in Friday afternoon as Rhode Island College swept a Little East Conference baseball doubleheader from Plymouth State University, 19-6 and 11-3, in the regular season finale at Panther Park.

            Levesque did it all for the Anchormen in the first game, going 5-for-6 with two home runs and five RBI at the plate, while also pitching a complete-game victory on the mound.  He worked seven innings and surrendered four earned runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out nine.  He came back in the nightcap with three hits and three RBI in five at bats, including his third home run of the day and eighth of the season.

            The Anchormen finished with 40 hits in the doubleheader, 19 in the first game and 21 in the nightcap.  RIC wraps up the regular season at 17-18 overall and 6-8 in conference play, while PSU concludes its season at 12-24 overall and 4-10 in the Little East.

            Plymouth State led the opener 2-1 after one inning, but the Anchormen went ahead for good with five runs in the third inning and six more in the fourth to open up a 12-3 lead.  RIC scored at least one run in every inning but the second, and the game was ended after seven innings by the 10-run rule.

            In addition to Levesque's big game at the plate, junior Dan Hopkins went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and junior Brent Hopkins hit a double and a home run and knocked in three.  Junior Kyle Allaire and seniors Mike Giustino and Justin Corso collected two hits apiece, with Corso driving in a pair.

            Senior Bryant Lausberg (Somersworth, N.H.) had two hits, including a home run, to lead PSU hitters in the first game.  Junior Luke Merrill (Pittsburgh, N.H.) and freshman Jeff Runnals (Wolfeboro, N.H.) also cracked two hits apiece and Runnals and junior Mike Cappiello (Westfield, N.J.) each drove in a pair.

            RIC took a 2-0 lead in the third inning of the nightcap and pulled away with four runs in the fifth and two in the sixth and seventh innings.  PSU plated all three of its runs in the sixth inning on a three-run homer by Merrill.

            Giustino led the Anchormen in the nightcap, finishing 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored.  Allaire, Levesque, Brent Hopkins and junior J.P. Stonecollected three hits apiece.  Dan Hopkins also contributed two hits, including a home run.

            Freshman C.J. Tsoumakas recorded the victory for RIC in the nightcap, pitching five shutout innings and allowing just four hits and no walks while fanning two.  Sophomore David Hoey worked the last four innings and recorded his first save. 

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