Providence, R.I.--Junior first baseman Frank Pettinato (Cranston, RI) went 4-for-8 with five RBI, five runs scored and a homer, while senior catcher Nate Cahoone (Westerly, RI) went 4-for-7 with five RBI and two doubles, as the Rhode Island College baseball team split a Little East Conference doubleheader at Pontarelli Field on Sunday afternoon.

Eastern Connecticut (14-12, 4-5 LEC) won the opener, 9-2, and the Anchormen (13-15, 2-7 LEC) won the nightcap, 13-9.

The Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first in game one on junior catcher Merlyn Herrera's (La Yaquiza, DR) RBI single. Junior first baseman D.J. Scavone (Auburn, MA) staked ECSU to a 2-0 advantage with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Eastern Connecticut increased its lead to 4-0 in the fifth when sophomore third baseman Alex Parkos (Meriden, CT) knocked in senior center fielder Alex Zachary (Enfield, CT) with an RBI double. Senior right fielder Pat Sirois (Cromwell, CT) plated Parkos with an RBI infield single.

The Anchormen got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when Pettinato opened the frame by reaching on an infield scoring and coming around to score on Cahoone's RBI double.

Herrera started a three-run burst in the seventh by knocking in two with a single to right field. Senior second baseman Christian Budzik (Cromwell, CT) brought in another with RBI sacrifice bunt to build Eastern's advantage to 7-1.

In the home half of the frame, Pettinato walked, worked his way to third and came across to score on freshman second baseman Nate Vigeant's (Coventry, RI) RBI single, making it a 7-2 ballgame. Eastern sophomore shortstop Cory Baldwin (Cromwell, CT) posted an RBI double and Zachary capped the game's scoring with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

ECSU sophomore starter Jordan Muchin (West Hartford, CT) earned the win (4-2), allowing just two runs on nine hits and striking out seven in eight innings of work. RIC sophomore starter Mike Webb (Pawtucket, RI) took the loss (1-2), allowing four runs on 10 hits to go along with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. Herrera went 2-for-5 with three RBI, Sirois went 5-for-5 and freshman designated player John Mesagno (Tappan, NY) went 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Webb went 2-for-4 for the Anchormen.

In game two, the visitors took an early 1-0 lead in the second as Budzik brought in the contest's first run with a sacrifice fly. Zachary doubled with one down in the third and scored on a throwing error to make it a 2-0 advantage for the Warriors.

Eastern improved its advantage to 3-0 as junior designated hitter Alex White (West Hartford, CT) contributed an RBI single in the top of the fourth.

The Anchormen evened the game up, 3-3, in the bottom of the frame as they loaded the bases with one down. Cahoone cleared the bases with a three-run double to left field.

Pettinato belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to give RIC its first lead, 6-3, on the day. The Anchormen then ripped off five runs in the sixth. After the hosts scored on a Warrior error, Pettinato ripped a two-run single. Junior right fielder Shaun Vigeant (Coventry, RI) tripled in a run and Cahoone capped the scoring with an RBI single.

Eastern mounted a major comeback bid in the top of the eighth as Scavone got the rally started with a sacrifice fly. The Warriors loaded the bases and White made the hosts pay with a grand slam to pull the visitors within three, 11-8. RIC Freshman shortstop Rommy Morel (Providence, RI) knocked in two in the bottom of the eighth and ECSU got one more in ninth to round out the game's offense.

Junior starter Daniel Greaves (Warwick, RI) picked up the win (3-4) for the hosts. Pettinato went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and five RBI, while Cahoone went 3-for-5 with a run scored and four RBI.

Eastern senior starter Ron Buchetto (Clinton, CT) took the loss (1-3). White went 3-for-5 with a run scored and five RBI.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Conference action at UMass Dartmouth on Monday, April 24 (3:30 p.m.).