Leicester, Mass.- Sophomore Austin Phillips' (Thomson, GA.) two run RBI single in the top of the eighth inning lifted Becker College to 3-2 win over Rhode Island College in non-conference baseball at action this afternoon at frigid Rochdale Park.
The Hawks got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when Todd Tompkins (West Haven, Conn.) drove in Cody Ewest (Warrenton, GA.) from third with a single into centerfield.
The Anchormen answered back in the top of the third inning when Joan Mustafa (Providence, R.I.) ripped a triple over the head of Becker centerfielder Joe Corey's (Billerica, Mass.) head, the relay throw into third sailed out of play, allowing Mustafa to score the tying run.
Rhode Island College took the lead in the top of the seventh inning on Becker reliever Matt Langello (West Haven, Conn.). With J.P. Stone (Narragansett, R.I.) standing on second base junior short stop Kyle Allaire (Uxbridge, Mass.) hit an RBI single to right field, putting the Anchormen in front 2-1.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the eighth inning when the Hawks finally got to Rhode Island College starter David Hoey (Lincoln, R.I.). Keith Kandel (Fresno, Calif.) led off the inning with a single to center. When Joe Corey tried to bunt Kandel into scoring position the Rhode Island College third baseman threw the ball away, allowing Kandel to move to third and Corey moved up to second base. With two runners in scoring position Austin Phillips drove the first pitch he saw into centerfield for a single, scoring Kandel and Corey, giving the Hawks the 3-2 advantage.
In the top of the ninth Rhode Island College brought the tying run to the plate in cleanup hitter Gary Levesque (East Providence, R.I.), but Becker reliever Jeff DiLorenzo (Coventry, R.I.) induced a five-four-three double play to end the game.
Freshman Trenton Gibson (Henderson, NV.) earned his first collegiate win after pitching one and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. Jeff DiLorenzo pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season. With the win the Hawks improved their record to 10-5 on the season. Becker will travel to Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon for an NECC doubleheader with the Mariners starting at noon.
David Hoey (1-3) took the loss for the Anchormen after pitching seven and a third innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits. The Loss drops Rhode Island College to 6-7 on the season.