Foley Gets Six Hits as Anchormen Split With Suffolk

More news about: Rhode Island College

Providence, R.I.-Sophomore right fielder Matt Foley (Seekonk, MA) went 6-for-8 with six RBI, four runs scored, two doubles and a homer as Rhode Island College split a doubleheader with Suffolk University at Anchorman Field on Saturday afternoon.

 

The Anchormen (4-7) won game one, 12-2, but saw Suffolk (4-7-1) storm back to win the nightcap, 12-10.

 

In game one, the Anchormen jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as senior left fielder Justin Costa (Cranston, RI) walked and sophomore second baseman Dean Beshansky (Cumberland, RI) followed with a single. The duo moved up on a wild pitch and they each scored on Foley's double to left field. Junior first baseman Tyler Santaniello (Cumberland, RI) followed with an RBI triple and then scored on a passed ball.

 

In the fourth frame, sophomore catcher Matt Billington (Cumberland, RI) walked, was sacrificed to second and moved over to third on a Costa single. Beshansky then plated Billington on an RBI ground out to second to make it 5-0.

 

The Anchormen tacked on two in the fifth as freshman third baseman Sean Getman (Oneonta, NY) smacked a two-run homer, his first collegiate longball, over the right field fence.

 

The Rams finally broke through against RIC senior lefty C.J. Tsoumakas (Hope, RI) in the top of the sixth. After a pair of walks, sophomore catcher Jon Lapolla (Providence, RI) doubled in one and junior designated hitter JC Collette (Amesbury, MA) came across on a wild pitch. With two on and two away, freshman Jake Roy (Seekonk, MA) came on in relief to retire senior pinch hitter James McConville (Medford, MA) with a strikeout.

 

RIC put the game out of reach with five runs in the bottom of the sixth, which was highlighted by Getman's second homer of the game, a three-run shot to right center field. Costa contributed an RBI double and senior designated hitter Justin Rainville (Cumberland, RI) brought in another with a sacrifice fly.

 

Tsoumakas picked up the win (2-1), allowing just two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings of work. He struck out nine, while junior reliever Joe Brooks (Pawtucket, RI) set down all three hitters he faced in the bottom of the seventh. Suffolk senior starter Jonathan Richard (North Reading, MA) took the loss (1-2), surrendering seven runs on seven hits in five innings.

 

Getman went 2-for-4 with five RBI and two bombs. Costa went 2-for-3, while Beshansky and Santaniello each contributed a pair of hits and an RBI. Suffolk senior center fielder Mac Jacobson (Norfolk, MA) was the only Ram with a multiple hit effort (2-for-4).

 

In game two, the visitors quickly took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Lapolla belted a two-out homer to right center field. RIC cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the first as Foley brought in Beshansky with an RBI single.

 

Suffolk added to its lead with two additional runs in the second inning. Junior shortstop Justin Knight (Hackettstown, NJ) had an RBI single, while senior second baseman Devan Jones (Roslindale, MA) came across on a double play.

 

The Anchormen got hot at the plate with a four-run effort in the bottom of the third to take a 5-4 lead. Beshansky led off with a single and scored on a Santaniello RBI double. Sophomore designated hitter Angelo St. Laurent (Cranston, RI) notched a sacrifice fly, while freshman catcher Tyler Rains (North Kingstown, RI) and sophomore shortstop Gian Abbruzzese (North Providence, RI) each knocked in a run with an RBI single.

 

RIC tacked on three runs in the fourth as Foley and St. Laurent smacked RBI singles and junior center fielder Pat Rogers (Waterford, CT) registered a sacrifice fly. Foley drilled a two-run bomb in the fifth to make it a 10-4 ballgame.

 

The Rams jumped all over the Anchormen in the sixth inning to get up off the mat. Suffolk got RBI singles from senior catcher Jack Sullivan (Hamilton, NY) and Jacobson, while freshman right fielder Luke Ronchi (Randolph, NJ) brought in two with a single as SU climbed within a pair, 10-8. With two aboard and still no outs, senior third baseman Jake Cintolo (Wrentham, MA) dealt a huge blow with a three-run homer to give the visitors their first lead, 11-10, since the third inning. An Anchorman error led to a Suffolk insurance run as RIC went into the bottom of the sixth down by two, 12-10.

 

With two down in the seventh, Santaniello doubled to right center, but junior reliever Frank Tierney (Hyde Park, MA) got Foley to strike out to pick up the save.

 

Freshman reliever Tim Conroy (Arlington, MA) picked up the win (1-1) for Suffolk. St. Laurent, who came on in relief in the sixth, was saddled with the loss (0-1).

 

For the game, SU's Cintolo went 2-for-4 with a run scored, three RBI and a homer, while Lapolla went 2-for-5 with a run scored a pair of RBI. Foley went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, four RBI, a double and a homer, while Santaniello went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, an RBI and three doubles.

 

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will play a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon at Bridgewater State (1 p.m.).