PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island College jumped out to early leads to sweep Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball doubleheader at Pontarelli Field on Sunday.
The Anchormen's bats were hot, scoring runs in each of the first five innings of game one. Junior
Andrew Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) singled home two runs in the fourth to cut the margin to 5-2, but RIC answered right back with two in the bottom half and another four in the fifth to pull away. Graduate student
Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) doubled, and PSU loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, but RIC wiggled out of the jam, allowing just one run to make it 11-3. The hosts added two in the seventh to account for the 13-3 final.
RIC again jumped out early, building an 8-0 lead through three innings of game two. Plymouth State rallied in the middle innings. Senior
Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) went deep in a two-run fourth, and the Panthers added three more in the fifth to cut the deficit to 8-5. The teams traded runs in the sixth and seventh before the Anchormen scored three times in the eighth to close out a 12-6 win.
Plymouth State dips to 6-18 (3-10 LEC), while the Anchormen improve to 13-19 (6-7 LEC).
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 3, RIC 13 (7 Inn.)
- Game 2: Plymouth State 6, RIC 12
- Plymouth State (6-18, 3-10 LEC)
- RIC (13-19, 6-7 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- RIC grabbed an early lead with a run in the first, then added three more in the second.
- The Anchormen used a leadoff homer in the third to extend the margin to 5-0.
- Sokolski smacked a one-out double in the fourth, and back-to-back hit-by-pitches loaded the bases. Faherty stroked a two-out single up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-2.
- RIC responded with a two-out rally to restore the five-run cushion, then tacked on four more in the fifth for an 11-2 lead.
- Sokolski led off the sixth with his second double of the game, and PSU loaded the bases with a walk and hit-by-pitch. Graduate student Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) drew a walk to force in a run, but RIC escaped with a double play and a strikeout to limit the Panthers to one.
- RIC plated two in the seventh to close the scoring.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Sokolski doubled twice in three at-bats and scored two runs.
- Faherty went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
- Quinn and junior Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) each reached base twice – Quinn was hit twice, Flynn reached via hit-by-pitch and a walk.
- Senior Mario Silva, Jr. (Pelham, N.H.) struck out three while recording the final eight outs.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- RIC built a 5-0 lead through the first two innings.
- Senior Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) singled and back-to-back walks loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but RIC escaped with a double play and flyout to stay in front.
- The hosts added three more in the third.
- Quinn launched a one-out homer in the fourth to get PSU on the board. The Panthers loaded the bases on a walk, a single from freshman Anthony Cooley (Brunswick, Maine), and a hit-by-pitch. Junior Chris Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and another walk reloaded the bases, but a groundout ended the threat.
- PSU rallied again in the fifth with a two-out surge. Quinn singled and Curtis walked before Cooley, Malgeri, and C. Faherty followed with consecutive RBI singles to make it 8-5. A walk loaded the bases, but RIC managed to escape.
- The Anchormen added a run in the sixth on a two-out double.
- Curtis singled in the seventh, moved around the bases on a pair of groundouts, and scored on a passed ball to make it 9-6.
- RIC put the game away with three in the eighth.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Quinn homered, singled, scored twice, and drove in a run.
- Cooley had a pair of singles in five at-bats, with a run scored and an RBI.
- Malgeri finished with two hits.
- C. Faherty reached base twice (single, walk) and drove in two.
- Curtis went 1-for-2 with three walks and three runs scored.
- Junior Jackson Fish (Hanover, Mass.) struck out five in 3.1 innings of relief.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head to VTSU Lyndon for a non-conference game on Monday (Apr. 28). First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
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