Collins Knocks in Game-Winning Runs in, 5-3, Victory at UMass Dartmouth

More news about: Rhode Island College

North Dartmouth, Mass.-Sophomore second baseman Tyler Collins (Cranston, RI) went 2-for-5 and knocked in the game-winning runs in the top of the ninth as Rhode Island College edged UMass Dartmouth, 5-3, in Little East Conference baseball action played at the UMD Athletic Complex on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Junior pitcher C.J. Tsoumakas (Hope, RI) picked up the win (1-5), allowing one earned run on five hits in an eight-strikeout performance over eight innings. Senior David Hoey (Lincoln, RI) hurled a scoreless ninth to earn his first save.

 

The Corsairs dropped to 11-18 and 4-6 in the Little East Conference with the defeat, while the Anchormen improved to 9-23 and 3-7 in LEC play with the victory. RIC defeated UMD, 15-14, last Tuesday in the two club's first meeting of the year.

 

The Anchormen took 5-3 lead with two runs in the top of the ninth. Junior first baseman Justin Rainville (Cumberland, RI) reached on an error and was sacrificed to second by senior third baseman Cody Ortega (Kissimmee, FL). Senior right fielder Kyle Mann (West Warwick, RI) was intentionally walked and sophomore center fielder Chris Siravo (Wakefield, RI) singled to load the bases. After a strikeout, Collins singled up the middle to score Rainville and Mann to put RIC on top.

 

Trailing, 5-3, in the bottom of the ninth, the Corsairs got a leadoff walk from sophomore left fielder Luke Bomback (Swansea, MA). Junior shortstop Nate Farias (Fall River, MA) flied out, senior designated hitter Tyler White (Westport, MA) singled and sophomore outfielder Andy Ekstrom (Millbury, MA) ran for him. Freshman second baseman Taylor Cacciola (West Greenwich, RI) flied out and Hoey struck out sophomore center fielder Ryan Medeiros (Acushnet, MA) to end the game.

 

The Anchormen took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on Rainville's RBI double, but UMD senior catcher Matt Worden (New Bedford, MA) singled home a run in the fourth to tie the game. RIC went ahead in the fifth, scoring on RBI singles by senior shortstop Zach Hubbard (Kissimmee, FL) and Collins. But UMD tied it in the sixth, scoring once on an error and tying the game on another run-scoring single by Worden. The Corsairs came close in the eighth, with Worden doubling with one out, but sophomore third baseman George Aggostini (Dighton, MA) was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first base.

 

Junior left-hander Nick Fuller (New Bedford, MA), who pitched the final three innings for the Corsairs in relief of freshman starter Aaron Chouinard (Swansea, MA), took the loss and fell to 2-5.

 

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Babson on Thursday, April 25 (3:30 p.m.).