PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Graduate students Andrew Salta (Laconia, N.H.) and James Salta (Laconia, N.H.) combined for three hits, two homers and six RBI in game one and sophomore Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) had a pair of extra base hits in the nightcap, but Plymouth State University came out on the short end of a pair of Little East Conference (LEC) baseball games at Rhode Island College's Pontarelli Field on Friday.
 
The Salta brothers each launched two-run homers in a four-run fifth inning as PSU rallied from an early deficit to trail 7-6, but RIC scored multiple runs in each of the next three frames to take the opener 16-6 in seven innings.
 
Crane went 2-for-3 with a double and triple in game two and Plymouth State rallied with single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the game at 3-3, but the Anchormen walked off with the win in the bottom of the ninth, 4-3.
 
Plymouth State falls to 8-15 (4-11 LEC), while the Anchormen improve to 19-9 (10-4 LEC) after winning 15-of-16.
 
The Basics:

• Game 1: Plymouth State 6, Rhode Island College 16 (7 Inn.)
• Game 2: Plymouth State 3, Rhode Island College 4
  • Plymouth State (8-15, 4-11 LEC)
  • Rhode Island College (19-9, 10-4 LEC)

 
How it Happened (Game One):

• RIC got a run in the first and three more in the second to take a quick 4-0 lead.
• Plymouth State used a two-out rally to cut the deficit in half in the third. Freshman Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) and Crane singled and J. Salta followed with a two-hit base hit to make it 4-2.
• The hosts came right back with another three runs in the bottom of the frame to push the lead to 7-2.
• Sophomore Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) doubled down the line to start the fifth and A. Salta followed with his first dinger of the year, a shot to left center, to cut into the deficit.
• Sokolski followed with a two-bagger and, after a ground out, J. Salta ripped a two-run shot to cut the margin to 7-6.
• The hosts came right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, though, then tacked on in the sixth and seventh to earn the win.

By the Numbers (Game One):

• Sokolski had three hits, including a double, at the top of the Panthers' lineup. He scored a pair of runs. Crane and J. Salta both had two hit games.
• J. Salta drove in four, while A. Salta went 1-for-3 with two RBI. It was the first time the Salta brothers both homered in the same game.
• Sophomore Richie Marique (Derry, N.H.) struck out five over the first 4.1 innings but fell to 1-5.  

 
How it Happened (Game Two):

• Crane ripped a one-out double in the first but was stranded.
• RIC took the lead on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth and made it 2-0 an inning later.
• Crane was hit by a pitch and J. Salta doubled down the leftfield line in the sixth, before senior Brody Fillion (Littleton, N.H.) drove in a run with a ground out to cut the deficit in half.
• The Anchormen got the run right back in the bottom of the inning with a key two-out RBI double.
• Crane smoked a two-out triple to the gap in right centerfield and he scored on a throwing error to make it a 3-2 game. A walk to Fillion put the tying run in scoring position, but RIC got a strikeout to end the threat.
• Senior Andrew Wasilefsky (Willington, Conn.) and Rives had back-to-back hits to open the ninth and the two pulled off a double steal with one out. The hosts got a key strikeout for the second out, but a wild pitch allowed the tying run to score.
• The hosts put the first two on in the bottom of the ninth and attempted to move the runners up on a sacrifice, but PSU cut down the lead runner at third. The next batter followed with a clean single to left, though, as the winning run crossed the plate.

By the Numbers (Game Two):

• Crane (double, triple) went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.
• Junior Drew Metzdorf (Burlington, Mass.) and Rives both had a pair of singles in four at bats.
• Junior Noah Wachter (Concord, N.H.) scattered five hits over his six innings of work, allowing three runs and striking out four.
• Graduate student Mark Berryman (Lancaster, N.H.) suffered the loss after allowing one run over his 2.1 innings of work.

 
Up Next:

• Plymouth State closes out the regular season on Monday (May 10) with a single LEC game at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.