FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2009

Rossi Powers Anchormen To Fifth Straight Win
Rhode Island College Defeats Salem State, 10-8

Providence, RI—Junior left fielder Jared Rossi (Johnston, RI) went 4-for-5 from the plate with a season-high four RBI to help Rhode Island College hold off a late charge by Salem State for a 10-8 win afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Anchorman Field. The Anchormen pounded out 16 hits en route to reaching double digits on the scoreboard for the fifth consecutive game.

 Junior left fielder Jared Rossi

Rossi reached safely in four of his five plate appearances with a pair of extra base hits, including his third home run of the campaign in the third inning, and scored two runs to pace the Rhode Island College (13-3) attack. Senior catcher Jordan Amorin (Swansea, MA) and freshman shortstop Kyle Allaire (Uxbridge, MA) each registered three hits, while junior right fielder B.J. Doyon (Douglas, MA) and sophomore first baseman Gary Levesque (East Providence, RI) chipped in with two hits apiece.

 Freshman Shortstop Kyle Allaire

The Anchormen cracked the scoring column in the first inning, as Rossi set the table with a leadoff double to left-center field. Senior third baseman Jeff Costa (Pawtucket, RI) drew a walk, while Amorin followed suit with an RBI single up the middle to drive in the pair.

Rhode Island College was able to chase Viking (6-6) junior starting pitcher Joe Galindo (Monument, CO) in the second frame with a one-out Costa RBI single. Senior relief pitcher Greg Richards (Saugus, MA) was able to pitch the visitors out of a bases loaded jam to stem the tide.

Salem State used the momentum from the bottom half of the inning to jump-start its offense. The Vikings strung together a pair of hits and a walk to load the bases with no outs. The visitors were unable to get a hit the rest of the stanza, but pushed across a pair of runs with a walk and RBI ground out to the pitcher.

The Anchormen use used some two-out magic to score seven of the game’s next eight runs to build a commanding 10-3 after six full innings. Rossi belted a three-run shot over the right field fence in the third, then capped his four-RBI afternoon with a single up the middle in the fifth. Sophomore designated hitter Mike Giustino (Wappingers Falls, NY) blasted his first home run in the sixth with a three-run shot into the woods behind the left field gate. 

The Vikings would not go quietly in their final at-bat as the visitors scored five runs on just one hit. The first three hitters reached base before the hosts could record an out. Salem State sandwiched a pair of RBI walks between a senior right fielder Ben Garlington (Rochester, MA) run scoring single to whittle its deficit to 10-7 with two outs. Rhode Island College senior closer Eric Fama (Wappingers Falls, NY) came on to earn his sixth save of the season, getting freshman shortstop Chris Cocci (Wakefield, RI) to ground out to first with the bases still full.  

Sophomore starting pitcher Rob Rushton (Freetown, MA) enjoyed his longest outing of the season, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out five in seven innings of work. Junior Eric Gelsomino (Johnston, RI) collected a strikeout in one inning of work. 

Sophomore shortstop Troy Ingime (Malden, MA) and junior outfielder Devon Davis (Abington, MA) each collected a pair of hits for the Vikings. Senior designated hitter Ken Luongo (Wilmington, MA) and first baseman Steve Mucci (Wallkill, NY) registered two RBI each.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will open the Little East Conference circuit with a doubleheader vs. UMass Boston on Saturday, Mar. 28 beginning at noon.

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