Keene, N.H.-Junior right-hander Kyle Morvan (Smithfield, RI) hurled a six hit, complete game shutout to lead the Rhode Island College baseball team to a 4-0 victory over Keene State, helping the Anchormen salvage a split of Saturday's Little East Conference doubleheader.
Rhode Island College (9-13, 2-4 LEC) dropped the opening contest, 10-4, but bounced back in the nightcap with the four-run victory to move into fifth place in the Little East Conference standings.
In game one, Keene State (6-11, 1-3 LEC) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, sparked by sophomore center fielder Joe Libby's (Hooksett, NH) leadoff single to center field. After senior second baseman Nick Vita's (Spofford, NH) one-out double, senior designated hitter Andrew Gummow (Brookline, MA) ripped a single to center field to plate a pair of runners.
The Owls increased their advantage to six with a four-run third inning, keyed by Vita's leadoff double to right-center field. After Vita scored on an RBI single from sophomore first basemanCody Dube (Windham, NH), sophomore left fielder Brett Dootson (Marlborough, CT)brought in both and Gummow with a double to left-center, while sophomore shortstop Billy Hartman (Greenland, NH) followed with a walk and scored an RBI single from Libby.
The Anchormen cut into the lead in the top of the fourth, with junior left fielder Tyler Santaniello (Cumberland, RI) providing a two-run double to right-center that plated sophomore designated hitter Angelo St. Laurent (Cranston, RI) and senior first basemanJustin Rainville (Cumberland, RI). RIC made it, 6-4, in the fifth inning when sophomore right fielder Matt Foley (Seekonk, MA) drove in junior second baseman Dean Beshansky (Cumberland, RI) and senior center fielder Justin Costa (Cranston, RI), but the Owls put an end to any rally by scoring three times in the bottom half of the frame and one more time in the bottom of the eighth.
Senior left-hander C.J. Tsoumakas (Hope, RI) was tagged with the loss and fell to 2-3 for the season after 4.1 innings of work. Senior right-hander Brad Van Fechtmann (East Greenwich, RI) was solid in relief of Tsoumakas, scattering one unearned run on three hits and two walks to go along with a pair of strikeouts.
Senior right-hander Shawn Egan (East Hartford, CT) started and pitched 4.1 innings for the Owls, while freshman right-hander Mike Crimi (Bethel, CT) picked up the win (1-0) with 2.2 innings of one-hit relief.
The Owls scratched just six hits against Morvan (4-1) in the nightcap, as the big right-hander struck out four and walked just one en route to his team-high fourth win of the season.
The Anchormen got the only run they would need in the first inning on an RBI fielder's choice by St. Laurent that scored Costa. RIC quickly touched KSC freshman starter Stephen Costello (Bristow, VA) for two more runs in the second inning, courtesy of freshman catcher Tyler Rains' (North Kingstown, RI) RBI single and Foley's bases-loaded walk. Foley tacked on a final insurance run in the sixth against sophomore left-hander Keith Simpson (Londonderry, NH) after his single down the right field line plated Costa and made it, 4-0.
Costello (1-1) lasted just 1.2 innings and was relieved by Simpson, who allowed just one run on five hits and two walks in 4.1 innings of relief. Freshman right-hander Zach Walker (Medway, MA) came out of the bullpen after Simpson and held RIC hitless over the final three innings.
Foley drove in four runs and went 4-for-8 with a walk to pace the Anchormen. Santaniello went 3-for-8 with two doubles, a walk, two RBI, and a run scored, while Costa also went 3-for-8 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored. Beshansky contributed with a 3-for-7 performance at the dish to go along with a double, three walks and a run scored.
Libby and Dube each led the Owls with three hits apiece, while Vita chipped in with two doubles and three runs scored.
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College travels to UMass Dartmouth for a Little East Conference showdown with the Corsairs on Tuesday, April 15 (3 p.m.).