Providence, R.I.-Wheaton College scored three runs in the top of the 10^th inning to snap a 9-9 deadlock and defeat Rhode Island College, 12-9, in collegiate baseball action played at Anchorman Field.

It was Senior Day for the Anchormen (15-18), who honored outfielder Ronnie Bracchi (Wappingers Falls, NY), catcher Justin Corso (Cranston, RI), outfielder Ryan DePasquale (East Greenwich, RI), designated hitter Gary Levesque (East Providence, RI), second baseman Andy Sceeles (Seekonk, MA) and pitcher Matt Thadeio (West Greenwich, RI), along with their families, prior to the start of the game.

After the ceremony, things quickly went south for junior starter Rob Rushton (Freetown, MA). Wheaton (29-8) put runners on first and third with one away as junior center fielder Hal Landers (Salem, NH) led off with a single and advanced to third on sophomore shortstop Eric Jensen's (Gorham, NH) single.

Rushton attempted to pick off Jensen at first, but an error allowed Jensen to score the game's first run. Jensen then moved over to third on a wild pitch and came home on junior third baseman Dan Haugh's (Andover, MA) double. Haugh hit a pop up in no-man's land behind shortstop and shallow left field. The wind blew the ball away from RIC junior shortstop Kyle Allaire (Uxbridge, MA) and junior left fielder Brent Hopkins' (Cranston, RI) diving attempt came up short.

Haugh moved over to third on a ground out and later scored on a wild pitch to stake the visitors to a 3-0 lead. However, the Anchormen shot right back with four runs in the home half of the first.

With runners on the corners and two down, Hopkins doubled in a pair. He followed with a steal of third and trotted home when the throw sailed into left field. Bracchi capped the frame with a long homer (3) to left field, making it 4-3 in the host's advantage.

The Anchormen tacked on an insurance run for Rushton in the third as RIC loaded the bases with one down. Bracchi brought in his second RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Wheaton quickly regained the lead, 6-5, with a three-run fourth. Senior right fielder Hadi Raad (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY) reached on an infield hit and moved up to second on freshman catcher Joe Carlier's (Rockland, MA) base knock. Landers doubled to left field to plate one, while senior left fielder Eric Laliberte (Nashua, NH) cleared the bases with a two-run single.

The Lyons tacked on a run in the fifth on a freshman first baseman Mike Bisceglia (New Boston, NH) RBI ground out and two more in the sixth on a Laliberte bomb (4), which cleared the right field fence, to give Wheaton a 9-5 lead.

WC freshman starter Alec Palioca (Wrentham, MA) set down the Anchormen in order in the sixth and looked to be in line for the win. He allowed just one earned run on five hits. Junior Derek Pelkey (South Hadley, MA) came on for the seventh and quickly got into a jam.

He loaded the bases on two walks and a single to start the frame, and then gave junior third baseman Mike Giustino (Wappingers Falls, NY) a free pass to bring in a run. The Lyons turned to senior reliever D.J. McGee (Worcester, MA) who promptly walked junior first baseman Dan Hopkins (Cranston, RI) with the inning's second run. RIC was then able to tie the game on a Levesque sacrifice fly and a Brent Hopkins RBI ground out.

Sophomore righty Anthony Raymond (North Providence, RI), classmate Cameron Cash (Dover, NH) and junior Mike DeWald (Hope Valley, RI) kept the visitors off the scoreboard until the 10^th, when the Lyons tagged DeWald for three.

After striking out the first batter, DeWald surrendered a single to freshman catcher Dan Gusovsky (Andover, MA), a walk to Landers and another single to Laliberte. Jensen singled in the go-ahead run past a diving Giustino at third and Laliberte belted another RBI single to left. Bisceglia walked with the sacks full to cap the inning and seal the win.

Laliberte finished the day going 4-for-6 with four RBI, two runs scored and a homer. Jensen also had four hits, going 4-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI. Haugh went 3-for-5 with a run scored, a double and two RBI. Junior reliever David Longley (Brunswick, ME) earned the win (2-0) and freshman closer Ryan Grant (Easton, MA) picked up the save (9).

Levesque and Brent Hopkins each went 2-for-4, with Hopkins knocking in a team-high three. DeWald (2-2) took the loss.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will close out the regular season in a Little East Conference doubleheader at Plymouth State (noon).