Springfield, Mass.-Junior left fielder Joe Yankee (Lincoln, RI) went 3-for-4, falling a double short of the cycle, to lead the Rhode Island College baseball team to a 14-5 non-conference victory over Springfield on Wednesday afternoon.
The Anchormen (18-8) erupted for five runs in the top of the first inning, with five different players knocking in runs for the Anchormen. Yankee, freshman second baseman Shaun Vigeant (Coventry, RI) and junior catcher Matt Foley (Seekonk, MA) all smacked triples in the frame.
RIC freshman pitcher Jake Murray (Middletown, RI) was able to get Springfield (7-22) out 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first to keep RIC's lead intact. The second inning saw RIC notch three straight one-out singles to load the bases before senior right fielder Pat Rogers (Waterford, CT) and senior third baseman Tyler Santaniello (Cumberland, RI) hit back-to-back two-RBI doubles to make the score 9-0 after an inning and a half.
The Anchormen were able to tack on three more in the top of the third when Yankee notched a three-run blast to increase the RIC lead to 12-0. RIC tacked on one more run in the top of the fourth to take a commanding, 13-0, lead through four innings.
The Pride were able to tack on a run in the bottom of the fifth when junior left fielder Keith Cotnoir (Westhampton, MA) recorded an RBI double to left field. Springfield would record two runs in both the bottom of the sixth, and the bottom of the seventh, with junior right fielder Billy Paskowski (Wappingers Falls, NY) notching an RBI double in each of the frames.
The Anchormen were able to tack on one more run in the top of the ninth with freshman right fielder Rich McNeil (West Warwick, RI) driving an RBI double to left center to give the game its 14-5 final.
Murray allowed just one run, while scattering four hits over 5.0 innings of work in the victory (1-0). Springfield junior right-hander Jack Baldwin (Westhampton, MA) went 1.1 innings, allowing nine runs on 12 hits in the setback (1-4).
Yankee went 3-for-4 with four RBI. Rogers went 2-for-2 with three RBI. Cotnoir had a big day for the Pride, going 3-for-3 with one RBI in the defeat.
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Framingham State tomorrow afternoon (3:30 p.m.).