Providence, R.I.-Junior first baseman Angelo St. Laurent (Cranston, RI) went 3-for-8 with three hits, including a triple and a home run, to lead the Rhode Island College baseball team to a split with UMass Boston in Little East Conference action played at Anchorman field on Saturday afternoon.
The Anchormen (11-5, 3-1 LEC) took game one, 6-3, before dropping the second contest to the Beacons (8-7, 2-2 LEC), 4-3.
Junior left fielder Joe Yankee (Lincoln, RI) went 5-for-8 on the day with a double and one RBI. St. Laurent knocked in two. Junior pitcher Dylan Pingitore (Johnston, RI)(1-0) pitched the Anchormen to the victory in the opener, going six-plus innings, allowing three runs and striking out six.
UMass Boston took the lead in the first game when junior shortstop Trevor Bouvier (Salem, NH) blasted a solo homer to lead off the third inning. RIC responded in the bottom of the fourth with freshman first baseman Frank Pettinato (Cranston, RI)drove in senior third baseman Tyler Santaniello (Cumberland, RI) with a double to right field.
The Anchormen broke the game open in the fifth when Yankee notched an RBI single to score a run. Junior catcher Matt Foley (Seekonk, MA) notched his sixth homer of the season in the following at-bat to give the Anchormen a secure, 4-1, lead. RIC runs in the sixth and eighth helped offset a two-run seventh by the Beacons to take the 6-3 victory.
Pingitore picked up the victory with senior righty Joe Brooks (Pawtucket, RI) picking up his first save. Senior lefty Kyle Szatrowski (Agawam, MA) picked up the loss (2-2) for the Beacons.
Game two saw a pitching duel through four innings. The Beacons scored three runs in the top of the fifth, capped by an RBI single from junior first baseman Luke Nagle (Pembroke, MA) to take a 3-0 lead. The Beacons added a run in the top of the sixth to build a 4-0 lead with nine outs remaining.
Freshman second baseman Shaun Vigeant (Coventry, RI) got RIC on the board in the eighth and the Anchormen were able to score two runs in the ninth, but UMB freshman right hander Alex Carusotto (Pittsfield, MA) was able to get the final outs to earn the save.
Yankee picked up the loss (0-2) for the Anchormen with Beacon sophomore rightyDaniel Mantoni (Northbridge, MA) picking up the victory (1-0). Carusotto went 2.0 innings to record his second save of the season.
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Johnson & Wales on Wednesday, April 8 (3:30 p.m.).