FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 28, 2009

FOURNIER, COSTA & AMORIN HELP
ANCHORMEN SALVAGE SPLIT IN LEC OPENER
RIC Rebounds to Split With, 14-4, Win Over UMass Boston

Providence, RI—Senior catcher Jordan Amorin (Swansea, MA) and senior third baseman Jeff Costa (Pawtucket, RI) knocked in four runs apiece, while classmate pitcher Bobby Fournier (Dartmouth, MA) picked up his second win (2-0), as Rhode Island College took game two, 14-4, from UMass Boston in the Little East Conference opener for both clubs on Saturday afternoon at Anchorman Field.

 Senior Third Baseman Jeff Costa

The Beacons (4-12, 1-1) used a six-run fourth inning to help secure an 11-6 victory in game one. RIC (14-4, 1-1) got on the board in the third as sophomore catcher Justin Corso (Cranston, RI) led off with a single and junior left fielder Jared Rossi (Johnston, RI) followed with a line shot over the left field fence for his team-leading fourth homer of the season.

The lead was shortlived as UMass Boston sophomore first baseman Connor Reinfurt (Manchester, NH) reached on a fielder’s choice to plate a run with another coming in on an error on the same play to tie the score. Sophomore shortstop Anibal Mendez (Lawrence, MA) brought home the go-ahead run with a bunt single and freshman right fielder Ty Buccetti (Wallingford, CT) followed suit with an RBI single to give UMB a 4-2 lead. Mendez later scored on the back end of a double steal and senior left fielder Ryan Oshima (La Jolla, CA) reached on a fielder’s choice to knock in the sixth run of the inning.

RIC senior shortstop Josh Cardoso (Dartmouth, MA) tried to get the momentum back in the home half of the fourth with a leadoff bomb (2). UMB took a commanding, 8-3, lead with two runs in the seventh. Senior designated hitter Eric Salvador (Middleboro, MA) notched an RBI single and sophomore second baseman Ryan Walsh (Newton, MA) smacked an RBI double.

The Anchormen pulled within a pair of runs with three in the seventh. Freshman center fielder Jeff Salcedo (Providence, RI) clouted his first collegiate home, Costa doubled in another and Cardoso walked with the bases loaded.

The Beacons plated three more in the ninth to quell the RIC advance, capped by a sophomore third baseman Dan Noonan (Westport, MA) run-scoring single.

RIC sophomore pitcher Gary Levesque (East Providence, RI) took the loss (2-1), allowing four earned runs on seven hits, to go along with six strikeouts, in 6.1 innings. UMB junior Danny Gomez (East Boston, MA) earned the win (1-1), surrendering six runs on nine hits in 6.1 IP. Senior Anthony Lauretto (Pembroke, MA) came on to earn the save (1), hurling a scoreless 2.1 innings.

The Anchormen jumped all over the Beacons in game two, scoring two in the second on senior right fielder B.J. Doyon’s (Douglas, MA) RBI double and a run-scoring single from senior second baseman Garrett Grenier (North Smithfield, RI). Amorin did the damage with a three-run homer as part of a four-run fourth. RIC added three in the fifth and four in the sixth to build a 14-1 lead.

Fournier was dominant through the first six, before a long layoff in the home half of the sixth, curbed his momentum. He allowed four runs on two hits, while striking out five in 6.1 innings. UMB junior starter Mike Andriano (Massapequa, NY) took the loss (0-2).

Costa was an offensive force to RIC on the day, going 4-for-8 with one run scored, five RBI and two doubles.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Bridgewater State on Monday, Mar. 30.

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