FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 29, 2009

SIX-RUN EIGHTH LEADS ANCHORMEN
PAST BEAVERS, 15-11

Providence, RI—Junior right fielder Jared Rossi (Johnston, RI) knocked in sophomore catcher Justin Corso (Cranston, RI) with a triple to center field as part of a six-run eighth inning to lead Rhode Island College past Babson, 15-11, in collegiate baseball action at Anchorman Field on Wednesday afternoon.

RIC (24-13) tied the 2008 and 1979 squads' program record for wins in a season with the victory. Babson sees its record fall to 21-16 as it prepares for the NCAA Tournament in two weeks. 

It was a nightmare for both squads’ pitching staffs as the two clubs combined for 26 runs on 39 hits, which included six home runs, seven doubles and a triple. Rossi was a single shy of the cycle, coming to bat a second time in the eighth with two aboard, but was hit by a pitch. He finished the day going 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored.

 Junior Right Fielder Jared Rossi

The Anchormen were able to get runs across in each of the first four innings. Sophomore first baseman Gary Levesque (East Providence, RI) smacked a two-out homer (10) to left field in the bottom of the first. The Beavers came right back with the equalizer in the second as senior left fielder Bryan Evans (Bellaire, TX) hit a solo shot (2). Junior third baseman Jake Bartlett (Weymouth, MA) added an RBI single and sophomore shortstop Corey Highfield (East Hampstead, NH) made it a 3-1 game with a sacrifice fly.

RIC was up to the task in the home half of the inning, scoring three times to go on top, 4-3. Freshman shortstop Kyle Allaire (Uxbridge, MA) hit a sacrifice fly and Rossi doubled in a pair. The hosts raised their advantage to three runs, 6-3, on senior third baseman Josh Cardoso’s (Dartmouth, MA) two run blast (3) in the third.

Babson sophomore second baseman Billy Besinger (Milton, MA), senior designated hitter Jeff Wojnar (Bellaire, TX) and Evans contributed RBI-singles to even the contest, 6-6, in the fourth.

Once again the Anchormen re-took the lead in the bottom of the frame as Rossi bashed his team-leading 11^th homer of the season and senior third baseman Jeff Costa (Pawtucket, RI) scored on an error.

The visitors battled back to tie the game, 8-8, with a pair of runs in the fifth, chasing RIC freshman starter Mike DeWald (Hope Valley, RI). Junior center fielder Peter O’Toole (Salem, MA) singled up the middle with two down and two aboard.

Both teams scored a run in the seventh as Wood homered (1) for the Beavers and Allaire tied the game, 9-9, with an RBI single.

Levesque moved from first base to the mound, taking over for freshman reliever Andrew McKeon (Johnston, RI) and hurled a scoreless eighth.

Corso led off the bottom of the eighth and doubled to center field off of Babson freshman reliever Jeff Buress (Cumberland, RI), setting the stage for Rossi’s go-ahead hit. Five more runs would come across, led by Levesque’s RBI single and a two-run double, which proved to be the game winning hit, by junior first baseman Tim Schabowski (Pascoag, RI).

 Junior First Baseman/Designated Hitter Tim Schabowski

O’Toole belted a two-run homer (4) in the ninth, but Babson would not get any closer. Levesque earned the win (3-3), while Buress took the loss (0-1).

 Sophomore Pitcher/First Baseman Gary Levesque

Levesque also went 4-for-5 from the dish with three runs scored, while Cardoso was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI.

O’Toole went 4-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored for the Beavers. Evans went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

In upcoming action, fifth-seeded Rhode Island College will play a doubleheader at fourth-seeded UMass Boston on Saturday, May 2 beginning at noon in first round action of the 2009 Little East Conference Championship Baseball Tournament. It is a best of three series. If necessary, the two clubs will play a deciding game on Sunday, May 3 at noon.

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