ROSSI’S RBI DOUBLE WINS IT FOR RIC

North Dartmouth, MA—Junior center fielder Jared Rossi (Johnston, RI) doubled home the winning run in the top of the eighth inning and visiting Rhode Island College held on for a 7-6 victory over UMass Dartmouth’s baseball team in a Little East Conference game at the UMass Dartmouth Athletic Complex Friday.

Junior Center Fielder Jared Rossi

The Corsairs, who fell behind, 6-3, had scored single runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings to tie the score at 6-6. Senior left fielder Mike Mitchell (Boston, MA) singled home a run in the fourth, senior designated hitter Casey Askeland (Dartmouth, MA) drove in a run with an infield out in the fifth, sophomore third baseman Pat McDonough (North Weymouth, MA) singled home a run in the sixth and the tying run scored when sophomore catcher Zac Talis (Lynnfield, MA) bounced into a double play with the bases loaded in the seventh.

RIC took a 3-0 lead in the second on RBI singles by sophomore right fielder Ryan DePasquale (East Greenwich, RI), sophomore left fielder Mike Giustino (Wappingers Falls, NY) and Rossi. UMass Dartmouth scored twice in the bottom of the second on an RBI triple by freshman right fielder Pete Beksha (Franklin, MA) and Mitchell’s subsequent single. DePasquale and Giustino singled in runs in the top of third to give the Anchormen a 5-2 lead, and junior first baseman Tim Schabowski’s (Pascoag, RI) run-scoring double gave RIC a 6-3 lead in the fifth.

Junior Eric Gelsomino (Cranston, RI), who relieved sophomore starter Gary Levesque (East Providence, RI) in the seventh inning, pitched two innings and earned the victory, improving to 1-0. Senior closer Eric Fama (Wappingers Falls, NY) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his eighth save. Junior Adam Gustafson (Dighton, MA), who went 7.2 innings for the Corsairs, took the loss and dropped to 1-3.

UMD is now 5-16 and 3-3 in the Little East Conference, while RIC is now 16-8 and 2-4.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Little East Conference rival Eastern Connecticut at noon.

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