Baseball Splits Non-Conference Twinbill with RIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I . -- The Bridgewater State University baseball team split a doubleheader with host Rhode Island College on Sunday afternoon at Anchorman Field in Providence.  The Bears dropped the opener, 6-5, and earned the split with an 8-4 victory in game two.

In game one, RIC senior pitcher David Hoey (Lincoln, RI) hurled one-hit ball over six innings and junior first baseman Justin Rainville (Cumberland, RI) drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to lead the Anchormen to the 6-5 win.

RIC (2-12) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as senior shortstop Zach Hubbard (Kissimmee, FL) reached on an error and later scored on sophomore designated hitter Alex Verrecchia's (Cranston, RI) infield single.

The Anchormen tacked on two in the fourth as sophomore second baseman Mario Albunia (Jersey City, NJ) doubled in a pair and an additional two runs in the fifth courtesy of an error and a Rainville sacrifice fly.

Hoey was masterful, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before the Bears finally broke through. Senior center fielder John Garabedian (Mansfield, MA) walked and eventually made his way to third before scoring on a Pierce sacrifice fly.

Hoey left after the sixth and gave way to the RIC bullpen before BSU mounted a four-run comeback in the seventh. With one down, the Bears had runners on second and third and started the rally by scoring on a wild pitch. Garabedian smacked an RBI single to pull the visitors within two, 5-3. Senior second baseman Sean Riley (Fairhaven, MA) picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice and Pierce tied the game with an RBI double.

With two down in the home half of the seventh, the game appeared to be headed for an extra session, but freshman catcher Matt Foley (Seekonk, MA) doubled to left and was lifted for freshman pinch runner Justin Costa (Cranston, RI). Rainville ended the game with an RBI single to left.

Hoey went six innings, allowing just one run on one hit, while walking two and striking out four. Senior pitcher Chris Mann (West Warwick, RI) earned the win (1-1), while BSU junior pitcher Kenny Pennini (Millis, MA) took the loss (2-1). He allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits and struck out seven in 6.2 innings.

The Bears (5-5) rebounded to win the nightcap, 8-4, behind a strong offensive performance from senior first baseman David Pierce (East Bridgewater, MA) who went 3-for-6 with a double, five RBI and two runs scored on the day.

The Bears ran off four runs in the top of the first inning in the nightcap, with Riley ripping a two-run bomb, his first home run of the season, to get things rolling. Senior shortstop Trevor Lawson (Easton, MA) and junior left fielder Jake Scott (Somerset, MA) each contributed an RBI fielder's choice.

BSU added one in the second as Riley reached on an infield single and later came across on a Pierce RBI sacrifice fly. RIC rallied in the home half of the inning as Rainville knocked in Verrecchia with a sacrifice fly and senior right fielder Kyle Mann (West Warwick, RI) plated Foley with an RBI single to make it 5-2.

In the third, the hosts cut their deficit to one run, 5-4, as senior center fielder Kevin Carey (Wakefield, RI) and Verrecchia each hit RBI singles.

The Bears responded with a three-run fourth to put the game away, 8-4, as Pierce continued his monster afternoon by knocking in two with a single to left field and Lawson plated one with an RBI single to right.

RIC junior starter C.J. Tsoumakas (Hope, RI) took the loss (0-3). BSU junior starter Andy Sadoski (Harwich, MA) picked up the win (2-1), allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits in six innings of work.

Foley led the way for RIC, going 4-for-7 with two doubles and a pair of runs scored in the twinbill, while sophomore left fielder Dean Grasso (Cranston, RI) went 3-for-7 with three steals and a run scored.

Riley went 3-for-9 with a homer, three RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in the two games while Lawson also contributed three knocks and a pair of RBI.