Providence, R.I.-Senior left-hander C.J. Tsoumakas (Hope, RI) was dominant through eight scoreless innings of work, while freshman third baseman Sean Getman (Oneonta, NY) scored the game-winning run on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Rhode Island College baseball team knocked off Plymouth State, 1-0, in the first game of a Little East Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Anchorman Field.
Plymouth State (11-6, 1-1 LEC) rallied to upend Rhode Island College (8-11, 1-3 LEC) in the second contest of the day, 7-6, to salvage a split of the doubleheader.
The opening game of Saturday's doubleheader proved to be a pitcher's duel, as Tsoumakas and PSU senior right-hander Tucker Regan (Niantic, CT) kept both offenses at bay throughout much of the afternoon.
Tsoumakas struck out eight batters in eight innings, conceding just three hits and four walks along the way. Meanwhile, Regan fanned nine Anchormen in six shutout innings and allowed just three hits and four walks in the no decision.
Following eight scoreless innings of action, Getman legged out a double to open the bottom of the ninth after launching a long fly ball to center field that fell just short of the fence. After Getman advanced to third on a wild pitch, junior second baseman Dean Beshansky (Cumberland, RI) stepped in and lofted a towering pop up to left field that was just deep enough to score Getman, sending the Anchormen to the, 1-0, victory with a walk-off sacrifice fly.
Junior right-hander Dylan Cummiskey (Warwick, RI) relieved Tsoumakas in the top of the ninth inning and surrendered just two hits and one walk en route to the victory (2-1).
Senior right-hander Zach Cogswell (Allenstown, NH) suffered the loss (0-1) for the visitors, despite tossing two solid innings of relief.
In the nightcap, the Panthers scored their first run of the day in the top of the first inning after sophomore center fielder Pat Cannon (Concord, NH) crossed the plate on an RBI single from junior first baseman Brian Thompson (Southington, CT).
The Anchormen answered right back in the bottom half of the frame to tie the game, 1-1, thanks to an RBI single from junior first baseman Tyler Santaniello (Cumberland, RI) that plated Beshansky.
Rhode Island College followed with four more runs in the bottom of the third to jump ahead of the Panthers, 5-1. After the Anchormen loaded the bases with three straight singles, sophomore designated hitter Angelo St. Laurent (Cranston, RI) singled through the right side to score junior center fielder Chris Siravo (Wakefield, RI). Senior first baseman Justin Rainville (Cumberland, RI) followed with a bases-clearing, three-run double to left-center field that put the hosts up by four.
After RIC added another run in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of an RBI single from senior right fielder Justin Costa (Cranston, RI), Plymouth State began to chip away at the deficit in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs to make it, 6-3. Junior second baseman Paul Reny (South Portland, ME) spearheaded the offensive attack with a two-run double to right-center field.
Both teams fell silent on offense until the top of the ninth inning, when the Panthers mounted their comeback bid, despite trailing by a trio of runs. After opening the frame with a double to right field, senior left fielder Jeff Runnals (Wolfeboro, NH) scored the first run of the stanza on an RBI fielder's choice from freshman center fielder Austin Karls (Severna Park, MD). Moments later, senior shortstop Brandon Cox (Nashua, NH) belted a two-run single to center field that plated Reny and Karls, tying the game at six.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth, Thompson came around to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, giving the visitors a 7-6 advantage. Senior right-hander Ryan Wakefield (Sanbornton, NH) entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the Anchormen in order en route to his second save of the season.
After entering the game in the fourth inning, senior right-hander Spencer Webb (Warwick, RI) was brilliant in 4.1 scoreless innings of relief for the Panthers, allowing just one hit and two walks to go along with five strikeouts in the win (1-0).
Junior right-hander Kyle Morvan (Smithfield, RI) was solid on the mound for RIC, striking out four and scattering three runs on seven hits and two walks in the no decision.
Senior right-hander Brad Van Fechtmann (East Greenwich, RI) was tagged with the loss (0-4) after coming out of the bullpen in relief of Morvan in the seventh.
Rainville led the RIC offense with a 3-for-8 performance at the dish that featured a double, a walk, and three RBI. St. Laurent added a trio of hits to go along with an RBI and a run scored, while Beshansky posted a pair of hits, including a triple, to go along with an RBI, three walks, and three runs scored. Costa added two hits, two walks, one RBI, and two stolen bases, while Siravo contributed two hits, three walks, and a run scored.
Sophomore right fielder Mike LaFlamme (Bedford, NH) went 3-for-3 to pace the Panthers' ahte plate, while Reny added a pair of doubles, two RBI, and a run scored. Cox chipped in with two hits, two RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored, while Runnals went 2-for-6 with a double and two runs scored.
In upcoming action, RIC will play Johnson & Wales on Wednesday, April 9 (3:30 p.m.).