Providence, R.I.-Senior pitcher Dylan Pingitore (Johnston, RI) hurled a complete game in the opener as Rhode Island College split a doubleheader (4-1, 16-6) with Western Connecticut in Little East Conference baseball action played at Anchorman Field on Saturday afternoon.

In between games, RIC (13-19-2, 2-10 LEC) seniors Pingitore, shortstop Gian Abbruzzese (North Providence, RI), left fielder Andrew Berlinsky (North Kingstown, RI) and pitcher Kory Lawrence (Woonsocket, RI), along with their families, were recognized as part of Senior Day.

Western (17-17, 5-6 LEC) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when sophomore first baseman Frank Vartuli (Westport, CT) blasted a solo homer to left center field.

The lead held until the bottom of the seventh. Berlinsky reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on Abruzzese's double down the left field line. Sophomore second baseman Shaun Vigeant (Coventry, RI) brought in the tying run with a single back to the pitcher.

The Anchormen weren't done and tacked on three more runs in the eighth to go up, 4-1, to secure the victory. Junior first baseman TJ Lynch (North Kingstown, RI) singled and sophomore right fielder Edward Apice (North Kingstown, RI) walked to start the inning. A throwing error on junior third baseman Scott Linnane's (North Kingstown, RI) bunt single allowed Lynch to score. With two away, Berlinsky smacked an RBI single and Abbruzzese knocked in another with an RBI fielder's choice.

Senior pitcher Dylan Pingitore (East Providence, RI) went the distance to pick up the win (2-4), allowing just one run on six hits and striking out three. WC senior starter Craig Frobel (Southington, CT) took the loss (3-3), allowing two runs on five hits to go along with four strikeouts in seven innings of work.

The Colonials wasted no time in getting on the board during the nightcap, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Senior right fielder John Kelly (Stratford, CT) singled, stole second and scored on sophomore third baseman Bill Buscetto's (Old Lyme, CT) RBI double. Buscetto moved up to second on a fly out and then scored on a wild pitch. Junior shortstop EJ Lavoie (East Granby, CT) registered a two-run double and then scored on a Vartuli RBI double.

The hosts got two back in the bottom of the second when Linnane led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch. Abbruzzese smacked a two-out solo homer to left to pull RIC within a run, 3-2.

The visitors responded with a four-run third inning as senior left fielder Matt Greene (New London, CT), Lavoie and sophomore designated hitter Kevin DeCastro (Bethpage, NY) each registered RBI singles. Junior second baseman Joe Costa (Hopewell Jct., NY) also contributed an RBI sacrifice fly.

Once again, RIC mounted a comeback as junior designated hitter Austin Barry (North Kingstown, RI) and Lynch each smacked solo home runs to pull RIC within three, 7-4, after three innings.

In the fourth, the Colonials added a run on a senior center fielder Chris Callahan (Southington, CT) RBI fielder's choice. Lynch knocked in two with a two-out single in the bottom of the frame, but RBI singles by Costa, Kelly and Callahan, coupled with an RBI double by Greene, helped Western build a 12-6 lead in the fifth.

Vartuli scored on an error, Kelly had an RBI fielder's choice and sophomore catcher Zach Sagar (Trumbull, CT) scored on a throwing error as part of a three-run sixth for the WCSU.

Kelly walked with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to give Western a 10-run lead, 16-6, to end the contest early. Senior reliever Edgard Santiago (New London, CT) picked up the win (3-2), allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out two, in four innings of work. RIC junior starter PJ Watson (Cheshire, CT) took the loss (2-3), allowing seven runs on nine hits in two innings of action.

Kelly went 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored for the visitors, while Lynch went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a homer for RIC.

In the two games, Vartuli went 4-for-7 with a double, a homer, three RBI and three runs scored. Lynch went 3-for-7 with three RBI and two runs scored.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host MIT on Wednesday, May 4 (4 p.m.).