Providence, R.I.-Sophomore right fielder Matt Foley's (Seekonk, MA) two-run triple and senior lefty C.J. Tsoumakas' (Hope, RI) complete game effort helped Rhode Island College to a game one victory as the Anchormen split a Little East Conference doubleheader with Western Connecticut on Sunday afternoon at Anchorman Field.
RIC (12-18, 5-7 LEC) won game one, 6-3, but the Colonials (14-17, 4-8 LEC) rebounded to take the nightcap, 8-2.
The Anchormen struck in the first inning of game one as senior center fielder Justin Costa (Cranston, RI) led off with an infield single, went to second on a wild pitch and was moved over to third on a ground out. Costa then trotted home on Foley's RBI ground out to third.
The hosts added to their lead with a run in the second as junior left fielder Tyler Santaniello (Cumberland, RI) led off with a single and eventually came across on sophomore shortstop Gian Abbruzzese's (North Providence, RI) RBI single.
Western pulled within one in the third when senior second baseman Jeff John (Trumbull, CT) led off with a single and eventually came across on sophomore catcher James Annello's (Waterford, CT) RBI single through the left side. The Colonials plated two in fourth to take a 3-2 lead as two errors and a wild pitch by RIC contributed to the offensive output.
The lead proved to be short-lived as sophomore catcher Matt Billington (Cumberland, RI) led off with a walk, was moved over to second with a sacrifice and then to third on a ground out, which set the stage for junior second baseman Dean Beshansky's (Cumberland, RI) RBI infield single.
The contest remained deadlocked at three apiece until the bottom of the eighth as Costa and Beshansky reached to open the frame. Foley came up and crushed a two-run triple to right center field and then came across on sophomore Angelo St. Laurent's (Cranston, RI) RBI ground out.
Tsoumakas slammed the door in the ninth with his third complete game effort of the year. He allowed just one earned run on seven hits, to go along with seven strikeouts to pick up the win (5-3). Western junior Edgard Santiago (New London, CT) also hurled a complete game in a losing effort (4-2). He allowed five earned runs on seven hits and also K'd seven Anchormen.
In game two, the Colonials jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the top of the second inning. Junior left fielder Gus Constantino (Oxford, CT) did the damage with a one-out, three-run homer to left field.
The Anchormen got single runs across in the second and third innings as freshman third baseman Sean Getman (Oneonta, NY) picked up an RBI single and classmate catcher Tyler Rains (North Kingstown, RI) walked with the bases loaded, respectively, to cut their deficit to a single run, 3-2.
Western Connecticut responded with a run in the fourth when freshman shortstop EJ Lavoie (East Granby, CT) reached on an error and later scored on classmate catcher Dave Palladino's (Southington, CT) RBI double to left center field. The visitors went up, 5-2, in the fifth as John led off with a single and eventually scored on senior third baseman Bobby Coyne's (Clinton, CT) RBI single.
WCSU tacked on two additional runs in the seventh as Annello was hit by a pitch with one away. He moved over to second on a ground out and then to third on senior right fielder Nick Briatico's (Bristol, CT) infield single. After Briatico stole second, both runners scored on an Anchormen throwing error to increase the visitors' lead to five runs, 7-2.
Freshman first baseman Peter Nanos (Farmington, CT) brought in Briatico, who had doubled with one down, with another insurance run in the top of the ninth to cap the scoring.
RIC junior Kyle Morvan (Smithfield, RI) was saddled with the loss (4-3), allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits in five innings of work. WCSU sophomore starter Craig Frobel (Southington, CT) picked up the win (3-0), surrendering two runs (one earned) on nine hits in five innings. Junior Alex Roger (Southington, CT) hurled three innings of scoreless relief without allowing a hit. Junior Rob Valunas (Oakville, CT) came on for the ninth to close out the win.
Beshansky went 4-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored for RIC, while Foley went 2-for-9 with a run scored, three RBI and a triple. Briatico went 3-for-8 with three runs scored and a double for Western. John went 3-for-9 and scored three times. Constantino went 1-for-2 with two runs scored, three RBI and a homer in the nightcap.
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Salve Regina on Tuesday, April 29 (3:30 p.m.).