Southern Maine Takes Two From Anchormen

More news about: Rhode Island College

Gorham, Maine-Senior pitchers Logan Carman (Newfields, NH) and Ryan Yates (Norway, ME) combined to hold visiting Rhode Island College to just four runs through 17 solid innings of work as the Southern Maine Huskies swept a doubleheader with the Anchormen  at the USM Baseball Stadium in Little East Conference action on Saturday.

 

The Huskies took the first contest, 11-3, and followed with a 6-1 victory to improve their record to 20-3 on the year. Southern Maine has won 14 straight contests dating back to March 24 and stands at 4-0 on the season in the LEC.

 

Rhode Island College falls to 6-21 on the year with a 1-5 record in conference play.

 

In game one of the twin bill, the visiting Anchormen jumped out to an early, 3-0, lead in the top of the first inning behind freshman catcher Matt Foley's (Seekonk, MA) two-run home run (2) and senior third baseman Cody Ortega's (Kissimmee, FL) RBI single to left center field.

 

Yet, Southern Maine immediately responded to tie the game at three in the bottom half of the inning, led by senior outfielder Tucker White (Deerfield, NH), who ripped an RBI triple to knock in a run and later stole home to tack on the second run of the frame. The Huskies added one more run in the inning when senior designated hitter Chris Bernard (Scarborough, ME) scored on a wild pitch.

 

The hosts picked up another run in the bottom of the second inning to go ahead, 4-3, after freshman shortstop Sam Dexter (Oakland, ME) drove in junior catcher Matt Verrier (Norway, ME) for what proved to be the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

 

The Huskies never looked back from there as Carman settled down on the mound and went on to hurl his second complete game of the season. After scattering three runs on four hits in the first inning, the southpaw allowed just five hits the rest of the way to go along with four strikeouts en route to his seventh win of the season (7-0).

 

USM added two more runs in the fifth, keyed by a pair of RBI from Bernard and Verrier, to extend its lead to three. The Huskies then added four more runs in the seventh, sparked by a two-run double off the bat of Dexter, and one more run in the eighth on an RBI double from Bernard to run away with the, 11-3, victory.

 

RIC senior right-hander Chris Mann (West Warwick, RI) was tagged with the loss (2-2) in his first start of the season for the Anchormen.

 

In the second game of the afternoon, both teams were held off the scoreboard until the top of the third inning when sophomore second baseman Mario Albunia (Jersey City, NJ) and senior shortstop Zach Hubbard (Kissimmee, FL) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Senior center field Kevin Carey (Wakefield, RI) stepped in and chopped a ground ball to first baseman that allowed Albunia to score and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.

 

After two scoreless frames, the Huskies answered back in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at one thanks to a solo home run from sophomore center fielder Jake Glauser (Goffstown, NH), his first of the season.

 

RIC senior right-hander David Hoey (Lincoln, RI) ran into more trouble in the bottom of the sixth after issuing a leadoff walk to junior first baseman Forrest Chadwick (Gardiner, ME). White followed with a single to left field that moved Chadwick to third and then stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position for senior third baseman Nick Grady (Whitefield, ME). After Grady singled through the left side to score Chadwick, Glauser laced a two-run single to left field that plated both White and Grady and gave the Huskies a 4-1 lead.

 

USM added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run triple from Glauser en route to the, 6-1, win.

 

Yates earned the win (3-0) for the Huskies after conceding just one run on five hits and one walk, while striking out five in eight innings of work.

 

Hoey was solid for RIC, but it wasn't enough for the season hurler to get the win, as he fell to 1-2 on the year. The right-hander struck out four and allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks in the loss.

 

Hubbard went 4-for-8 with a double on the day to lead the Anchormen at the dish, while Carey, Foley, and sophomore left fielder Dean Grasso (Cranston, RI) each finished with two hits on the afternoon.

 

Glauser led the way for USM by going 4-for-4 with a triple, a homer, five RBI, and a run scored, while White went 4-for-8 with a double, a triple, three runs scored, one RBI, and a whopping five stolen bases.

 

 

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East play at home against UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday, April 16 (3:30 p.m.).