Providence, R.I.—Freshman shortstop Rommy Morel (Providence, RI) went 3-for-4 as the Rhode Island College baseball team dropped a 15-9 decision against Suffolk in a non-conference contest played at Pontarelli Field on Monday afternoon.

RIC (12-13) sophomore third baseman Mike Webb (Pawtucket, RI) went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a pair of RBI in the setback.

Suffolk (16-7) was led by senior right fielder Luke Ronchi (Randolph, NJ), who went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Sophomore center fielder  Curtis Tirone (Waltham, MA) had three hits and three RBI in the win.

RIC wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first inning when junior center fielder Brad Douglas (Wakefield, RI) walked and came around to score on an RBI groundout from Webb to make the score 1-0.

Suffolk erupted for seven runs in the top of the third, which included a two-run singles from both Ronchi and senior first baseman Kevin Belskie (Norristown, PA) for the 7-1 lead.

The Anchormen chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the fourth after junior right fielder Shaun Vigeant (Coventry, RI) led off with a triple and scored on an RBI groundout by senior third baseman Scott Linnane (North Kingstown, RI) to make the score 7-2.

The visiting Rams tacked on two more in the top of the fifth on a two-run single from Tirone for the 9-2 advantage. Suffolk added a run in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from junior designated hitter Greg Speliotis (Salem, MA) for the eight-run, 10-2, lead.

RIC continued to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the seven and an RBI single from Webb closed the gap to seven, 10-3. The Anchormen then had back-to-back RBI groundouts from senior designated hitter Austin Barry (North Kingstown, RI) and Shaun Vigeant to make the score 10-5.

Suffolk got a run back in the top of the eighth when senior catcher Matt Brenner (Eliot, ME) led off the inning with a solo home run for the 11-5 lead. The Rams added another run in the frame off an RBI double from Tirone put the score at 12-5.

Again, RIC responded in the bottom of the eighth as an RBI single from sophomore pinch hitter Erik O'Connell (Coventry, RI) cut the deficit down to six, 12-6. Suffolk answered in the top of the ninth and tacked on three insurance runs to take the 15-6 advantage. In the bottom of the ninth, a three-run blast from RIC freshman catcher Kevin Alvarez (Providence, RI) was the lone bright spot as the Anchormen were unable to close the gap.

Freshman starter Riley Miller (Newport, RI) took the loss for RIC. Junior pitcher Ryan Pordes (Hawthorne, CA) picked up the win for Suffolk, allowing five runs on six hits to go along with four strikeouts in seven innings to earn the victory.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East Conference play at home against UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday, April 18 (3:30 p.m.).