Gorham, Maine—Freshman shortstop Rommy Morel (Providence, RI) went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI as the fifth-seeded Rhode Island College baseball team fell to top-seeded Southern Maine, 8-4, in an elimination game of the 2017 Little East Conference Baseball Championship played at Ed Flaherty Field on Thursday morning. The loss eliminated RIC (17-19) from the tournament and wrapped up the 2017 campaign for the Anchormen.

RIC senior catcher Nate Cahoone (Westerly, RI) was 2-for-5 with two RBI, while sophomore designated hitter Mike Webb (Pawtucket, RI) and junior first baseman Frank Pettinato (Cranston, RI) each had a pair of hits in a losing effort.

Southern Maine (29-10) was led by senior third baseman Matt Bender (Walpole, MA) who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Freshman shortstop Andrew Olszak (Danvers, MA) went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI, while sophomore catcher Kip Richard (Kennebunk, ME) contributed three hits in the win for the Huskies.

RIC took the early lead when a two-run single from Cahoone in the bottom of the first gave the Anchormen the 2-0 advantage.

Southern Maine knotted the game, 2-2, in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs, highlighted by a solo home from Richard. The Huskies plated three runs in the top of the sixth on a three-run blast from Bender for a 5-2 advantage. USM then tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to 7-2.

The Anchormen responded in the bottom of the seventh as a two-run double from Morel cut the club's deficit down to three, 7-4. Southern Maine added an insurance run in the top of the eighth when an RBI single from sophomore center fielder Devin Warren (Smithfield, ME) increased the host's advantage to four runs, 8-4. RIC threatened in the bottom of the eighth and loaded the bases, but couldn't push a run across as Southern Maine held on to advance in the tourney.

Junior pitcher Dan Greaves (Warwick, RI) took the loss (3-5) on the mound for RIC, giving up five runs on 10 hits to go along with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.

Senior pitcher Tyler Leavitt (North Andover, MA) recorded the win (4-0) for Southern Maine, allowing four runs on seven hits to go along with four strikeouts over six innings.