Mansfield, Conn.-Junior left fielder Tyler Santaniello (Cumberland, RI) went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while senior right-hander Brad Van Fechtmann (East Greenwich, RI) kept the Panthers off the scoreboard through the final four innings of action, to lead sixth-seeded Rhode Island College to a 7-4 victory over fifth-seeded Plymouth State in game four of the 2014 Little East Conference Baseball Tournament, played at Eastern Connecticut State University, on Thursday. 

Rhode Island College (13-22) returns to action on Friday afternoon (2:30 p.m.) in an elimination game against the loser of Thursday's contest between second-seeded Southern Maine vs. third-seeded UMass Dartmouth (6 p.m.). Meanwhile, Plymouth State (22-16) sees its season come to an end with the loss.

After Plymouth State scratched the first run of the game in the top of the first inning courtesy on an RBI ground out from junior first baseman Brian Thompson (Southington, CT) that scored sophomore left fielder Jake Broom (New London, NH), the Panthers tacked on two more runs in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead. Broom drew a walk, stole second base and moved to third on a ground out to the right side before scoring the first run of the frame on a wild pitch, while Thompson came around to score later in the inning on an error, this after he reached on a walk as well.

Despite falling into an early hole, the Anchormen tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to just one. The rally began when sophomore right fielder Matt Foley (Seekonk, MA) drew a two-out walk, while senior first baseman Justin Rainville (Cumberland, RI) followed with a single to right-center field to put runners on the corners. After Foley crossed the plate on a wild pitch to put RIC on the scoreboard, Rainville scampered to third and then came around to score on back-to-back wild pitches, making it, 3-2.

PSU added another run in the top of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead after senior right fielder Jeff Runnals (Wolfeboro, NH) doubled to left-center field, moved to third on a fielder's choice, and came around to score on a passed ball.

Rhode Island College bounced back to take a 5-4 lead following a three-run bottom of the fifth inning. After junior second baseman Dean Beshansky (Cumberland, RI) and Foley opened the frame with back-to-back walks, Rainville ripped a single into right-center field to score Beshansky and pull the Anchormen within a run. Moments later, Santaniello lofted a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Foley from third base and knotted the game at four.

With one out in the frame and Rainville on first, freshman catcher Tyler Rains (North Kingstown, RI) and freshman third baseman Sean Getman (Oneonta, NY) belted back-to-back singles to load the bases for the Anchormen. Sophomore designated hitter Angelo St. Laurent (Cranston, RI) stepped in and drew a walk to give RIC a one-run lead, but the Panthers induced an inning-ending double play to minimize any further damage.

The Anchormen struck for two more runs in the seventh to take a 7-4 lead over Plymouth State, sparked by Santaniello's leadoff single down the left field line. After Santaniello took both second and third on a pair of wild pitches, the junior left fielder came around to score RIC's sixth run of the game on sophomore shortstop Gian Abbruzzese's (North Providence, RI) RBI single through the left side.

After senior center fielder Justin Costa's (Cranston, RI) infield single once again loaded the bases for the Anchormen, Beshansky drew another walk to score Getman, who also reached on a walk earlier in the frame. Getman's tally gave RIC another insurance run and increased its lead to three heading into the final two frames.

After senior center fielder Justin Costa's (Cranston, RI) infield single once again loaded the bases for the Anchormen, Beshansky drew another walk to score Getman, who also reached on a walk earlier in the frame. Getman's tally gave RIC another insurance run and increased its lead to three heading into the final two frames.

Van Fechtmann, who entered the game in the sixth in relief of junior right-hander Kyle Morvan (Smithfield, RI), limited the Panthers to just four base runners through the remainder of the game. Van Fechtmann earned his first save of the season and allowed just two hits and one walk, while striking out two in four shutout innings of work.

Morvan (5-3) picked up the win for RIC after allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks, while striking out a pair in five solid innings on the hill.

PSU junior starting pitcher Tucker Regan (Niantic, CT) was saddled with the loss (3-3). The right-hander lasted 4.1 innings on the mound and conceded five runs on five hits and five walks.

Aside from Santaniello's big day at the plate, Rainville helped carry the Anchormen with a 2-for-5 performance at the dish that featured one RBI and two runs scored. Foley went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored, while Beshansky walked twice and chipped in with one RBI and one run scored.

Plymouth State senior shortstop Brandon Cox (Nashua, NH) went 2-for-4 with a double to lead the Panthers at the plate, while Broom walked, stole a base, and scored a pair of runs.