Providence, R.I.-Senior shortstop Kyle Allaire (Uxbridge, MA) pounded out five hits on the afternoon as the Rhode Island College Anchormen and the UMass Boston Beacons split a Little East Conference doubleheader at Anchorman Field on Friday. The Beacons, who served as the hosts for both contests, took the first game, 9-8, in 12 innings, while RIC rallied to win the nightcap, 4-2, in a five-inning, darkness-shortened affair.

Rhode Island College closes out the season with a 25-15 record overall and a 9-5 mark in the LEC. With the win, the Anchormen broke the program record for wins in a season with 25. UMass Boston wraps up the regular season with an 18-20-1 record overall and a 6-8 mark in the Little East.  

Both teams will compete in the upcoming 2012 Little East Conference Baseball Tournament, although their respective opponents and game times have yet to be determined.

The Anchormen opened up game one with a pair of runs in the top of the first, as Allaire and senior catcher J.P. Stone (Narragansett, RI) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Senior left fielder Brent Hopkins (Cranston, RI) followed with a double down the left field line to plate Allaire and give RIC a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Stone scored on an RBI fielder's choice from sophomore designated hitter Alex Verrecchia (Cranston, RI) to stake the Anchormen to an early, 2-0, lead.

The Beacons responded in the bottom half of the frame with a run of their own, as senior center fielder Mark McCormack (Shelton, CT), who led off the stanza with a single to right field, came around to score on an RBI single from junior second baseman Matt Consiglio (Southbury, CT).

In the bottom of the third, senior left fielder Ty Buccetti (Wallingford, CT) led off the inning with a bunt single, which was followed by senior third baseman Mike Mattei's (Spencer, MA) single up the middle to put a pair of runners on base. After sophomore shortstop Jamill Moquette (Boston, MA) ripped a single to right field to drive in Buccetti and knot the game at two, Mattei and Moquette each stole second and third, respectively, to get into scoring position. After Consiglio drew a walk to load the bases, senior designated hitter Wilberto Sanjurjo (Boston, MA) knocked in Mattei with an infield single, which gave UMass Boston a 3-2 lead.

The Beacons extended their lead to two in the bottom of the fourth as Mattei laced an RBI single to center field to score senior first baseman Pat Lynch (Middletown, RI).

However, the Anchormen came back to pull within a run in the top of the fifth after an RBI double from senior first baseman Dan Hopkins (Cranston, RI) plated Stone, who had reached on a one-out single.

UMass Boston scratched another run in the bottom half of the frame as Consiglio, who led off the inning with a double off the left field fence, came around to score on a wild pitch, making it, 5-3, UMB.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Beacons added two more runs to take a 7-3 lead. After a leadoff single from Buccetti, McCormack launched a double to left field that plated Buccetti for the first run of the frame. Moments later, McCormack would come around to score on an RBI triple to right field from Moquette to increase UMB's lead.

With two outs in the top of the eighth, a resilient Rhode Island College squad rallied for four runs to tie the game at seven. Senior second baseman Joan Mustafa (Providence, RI), who lined a single through the right side to spark the comeback, scored the first run of the inning on an RBI single from junior third baseman Cody Ortega (Kissimmee, FL). After junior center fielder Kevin Carey (Wakefield, RI) walked to put runners on first and second, Allaire blasted a double down the right field line to score Ortega and pull the Anchormen within two. Moments later, Stone smacked a two-run single to score both Carey and Allaire, making it, 7-7.

Both teams had opportunities to strike in the ninth, 10th, and 11th innings, but neither offense could capitalize. Finally, the Anchormen tallied the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th as Carey singled to left field, stole second base, reached third on a passed ball, and then came around to score on an RBI fielder's choice from Dan Hopkins, giving RIC the, 8-7, lead.

However, the Beacons stormed back to pull off the victory with just one out in the bottom of the 12th. Sophomore catcher Taylor Kapulka (Worcester, MA) singled to spearhead the rally, freshman pinch hitter Patrick Murphy (Stamford, CT) followed with a walk and junior leftfielder Nick Grassetti (Agawam, MA) chopped an infield single to the shortstop to load the bases. McCormack then stepped in and launched the game-winning, walk-off double into deep center field, scoring both Kapulka and Murphy and giving the Beacons the, 9-8, victory.

Sophomore reliever Will Barrack (Lancaster, VA) recorded the win, improving his record to 3-1 on the year. Barrack conceded one run on two hits and two walks in three innings, while striking out three. RIC junior reliever Chris Mann (West Warwick, RI) was tagged with the loss (0-1).

UMass Boston junior starting pitcher Daniel Heefner (Tracy, CA) tossed six solid innings, allowing three runs on 11 hits while walking one and striking out one, before being chased from the game.   

Senior relief pitchers Mike DeWald (Hope Valley, RI) and Eric Blanchard (Warwick, RI) tossed a combined five scoreless innings of relief for the Anchormen. DeWald gave up just two hits and one walk in two innings, while striking out three. Blanchard didn't surrender a hit, while allowing just one walk and striking out one in three shutout frames.

The Anchormen struck first in game two as Dan Hopkins kick-started the offense with a two-out single up the middle. Two batters later, Mustafa laced a single to center field, scoring Dan Hopkins and giving RIC the early, 1-0, lead.

The Beacons bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Sanjurjo opened the frame with a single to left field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lynch laid down a bunt single to advance Sanjurjo to third, with Sanjurjo scoring moments later on a sacrifice fly from Buccetti. After McCormack singled to put runners on the corners, a costly Anchormen throwing error allowed Lynch to score from third and tie the game at two.

Rhode Island College answered back in the top of the fourth to retake the lead. Freshman right fielder Dean Grasso (Cranston, RI) led off the inning with a single to right field. He then stole second base, advanced to third on a ground ball and scored on a sacrifice fly to right field from Ortega. Carey followed with a double to center field and then was driven home on an RBI single from Allaire, putting RIC on top, 4-2.

The game was called after five innings because of darkness, giving the Anchormen the, 4-2, victory.

Freshman starting pitcher Dylan Cummiskey (Warwick, RI) earned the win and improves to 3-1 on the year. In five innings, he scattered two runs on five hits and walk, while striking out five.  UMB junior starting pitcher Michael Boughton (New Britian, CT) was charged with the loss (2-3).

Allaire led the Anchormen with a 5-for-8 performance at the dish. He finished with a double, two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Stone went 4-for-9 with two RBI and three runs scored, while Grasso, Mustafa and Dan Hopkins each finished with four hits as well.

McCormack led the Beacons offensively as he went 6-for-9 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Moquette finished 3-for-8 with two RBI, a triple, and a stolen base. Sanjurjo and Buccetti each finished the afternoon with three hits as well.