Waltham, Mass.—Rhode Island College junior third baseman TJ Lynch (South Kingstown, RI) went 3-for-4 with seven RBI and two runs scored to lead the baseball team to an 11-4 victory over Brandeis in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon.

The Judges (8-10-1) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when senior right fielder Ryan Healy (Carlsbad, CA) knocked a RBI double which drove in senior center fielder Liam O'Connor (Avon, CT).

The Anchormen (9-9-1) responded by scoring three runs in the top of the third. Junior catcher Nate Cahoone (Westerly, RI) started the RIC offense by ripping a single back up the middle to score sophomore first baseman Frank Pettinato (Cranston, RI), which knotted the score at one. The Anchormen got some help from the Judges pitching, with Lynch walking and sophomore right fielder Edward Apice (North Kingstown, RI) being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make the score 3-1 RIC.

RIC struck for two more in the top half of the fourth with Lynch knocking in two with an RBI single. The Judges got one back in the bottom of the frame when Healy scored on a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-2 RIC heading into the fifth inning.

Brandeis pulled within one run in the sixth when sophomore pitcher Luke Zeccola (Garden City, NY) knocked a no-out, two-run homer to left to drive in Healy. The Anchormen responded in the top half of the seventh, with Apice scoring Lynch and junior left fielder Austin Barry (North Kingstown, RI) with a double to left field to make it a three-run, 7-4, lead.

The Anchormen extended their advantage in the top of the eighth to put the game out of reach for good. Senior shortstop Gian Abbruzzese (North Providence, RI) started the inning off with a single and moved over to second when sophomore second baseman Shaun Vigeant (Coventry, RI) reached first on a catcher's interference call. The Anchormen loaded the bases on the next better when sophomore center fielder Brad Douglas (Wakefield, RI) executed a perfect bunt on the third base side.

With the bases loaded and one out, Lynch stepped up big and ripped a grand slam home run over the left field fence to make the score 11-4 RIC with only six Brandeis outs remaining. Sophomore pitcher Myles Levy (Cranston, RI) was able to shut the door on a comeback bid, by blanking the Judges in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the 11-4 victory.

RIC sophomore pitcher Daniel Greaves (Warwick, RI) went five innings, allowing four runs, while striking out three, in the victory (1-1). Levy pitched well in relief, allowing just three hits and no runs, while striking out two, and to earn the save (1). Along with Lynch's monster day, Apice was also instrumental for RIC, going 1-for-4 with three RBI. Abbruzzese went 3-for-4.

Zeccola went three innings, allowing three runs on one hit, while striking out four, in the loss (0-1). O'Connor went 3-for-5 from the plate for the Judges and scored one run. Healy went 3-for-4 with one RBI and a pair of runs scored.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will open Little East Conference play with a doubleheader at home against Southern Maine on Saturday, April 2 (Noon).