Worcester State 15, Rhode Island College 10
Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Tyler McElman (Marlboro, MA) went 3-for-5 with a homer and five runs batted in to help pace Worcester State in a 15-10 non conference victory over Rhode Island College this afternoon at Fitton Field on the campus of Holy Cross.
With the triumph the Lancers (23-5-1) have now won 11 straight games while the Anchormen fall to 17-10 overall. Both teams are currently in first place in their respective conferences and they started off the week tied for seventh place in the latest New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association coaches poll.
The two squads combined for 30 hits in the nine inning affair as RIC outhit the Blue and Gold 17-13. Five homers were also knocked out of the yard.
Junior classmates Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX) and Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA) along with freshman Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John’s) all chipped in with two hits apiece with two RBIs while Hinkell crossed the plate three times.
Rhode Island College was propelled by third-year Ronnie Bracci (Wappinger Falls, NY) who went 2-for-5 with a homer and four runs driven in while sophomore John Stone (Narragansett, RI) and freshman Greg Palmer (E. Greenwich, RI) each contributed three hits. Junior Gary Levesque (E. Providence, RI) and sophomore Kyle Allaire (Uxbridge, MA) also notched two hits as Levesque drove in a pair.
The Anchormen opened the game with three runs in the top of the first. Stone got on with a single before Rossi drew a walk and then Levesque plated them both with a single to left center. Levesque would then move into scoring position on the throw to third with his base hit and he advanced to third on a passed ball. Bracchi ended the scoring for the visitors as he drove in Rossi.
Worcester State responded with five runs as they ended the first frame with the 5-3 lead. With the bases loaded, senior Nick Caparell (N. Attleboro, MA) grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice, Rodriguez would register a sacrifice fly and Hinkell drove in Caparell from first with a double to help the Lancers tie the score. McElman then gave WSC the lead as he jacked out his sixth homer of the year.
The Blue and Gold then continued build on the lead as they tallied six runs in the bottom of the third. The scoring was highlighted by a two-run double by Creen and a two-run homer by third-year Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA) for his first career round tripper.
With the 11-3 edge, freshman southpaw Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) would then shut down the visitors as they tried to chip away at the lead. It wasn’t easy, but Slattery would strand five in scoring position – which included a bases loaded situation in the fifth – before he gave up a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. RIC made the score 11-5 in that inning when junior Joseph Correia (Pascoag, RI) belted a solo homer and when Stone manufactured a run on a sacrifice fly.
With sophomore Kyle St. Thomas (Bridgewater, MA) on the mound in the seventh, the Anchormen took full advantage of the WSC reliever and put up three more runs on the board. Bracchi would hammer a two-run homer to the deep part of centerfield and Palmer rapped out an RBI double.
Trailing 12-8 in the top of the eighth, Rhode Island College tacked on two runs on the board off of senior closer Kevin Hayes (Medford, MA). Stone and Rossi tallied consecutive singles and they moved into scoring position on an out at first. Stone would then scamper home on an error in the infield before Rossi was driven in on a run producing ground out.
Worcester State though would stage a three-run bottom frame to give themselves a 15-10 cushion heading for the final inning. McDonald continued his 19-game hit streak with a solo homer and McElman capped off his day with a two-run single. McElman continues to lead the Lancers with 36 RBIs.
Hayes hurled a scoreless ninth to seal the win for WSC.
Slattery would improve his record to 4-0 as he allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits. Slattery would fan six while he walked two and hit two batters. Hayes and St. Thomas combined to yield five runs (four earned) with eight hits.
Sophomore Andrew McKeon (Johnston, RI) shouldered the loss for RIC as four pitchers came out of the bullpen for the visitors. McKeon (1-3) only went 2 1/3 innings allowing nine runs (five earned) off of six hits. Anchormen pitching fanned five and only issued walk.
Both squads will play conference doubleheaders on Saturday afternoon at 12 PM. Worcester State will entertain Framingham State at Fitton Field while Rhode Island College travels to Eastern Connecticut with first-place on the line.