Providence, R.I.--Freshman first baseman Daniel Trzepacz (Mont Vernon, N.H.) smacked a homer and drove in four runs as the Rhode Island College baseball team defeated Western New England, 14-9, on Thursday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 14, Western New England 9
Rhode Island College (20-6-1)
Western New England (13-12-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Trezpacz hit his homer in the first inning to give the visitors an early, 1-0, advantage.
 
• WNE would score two runs in both the first and second innings, highlighted by a home run from sophomore catcher Kohtaro Shimada (Woburn, Mass.), to give the Golden Bears the lead, 4-1.
 
• With RIC down, 5-1, in the fourth inning, the Anchormen put across seven in the frame to take the lead back, 7-5. Senior third baseman Jarrad Grossguth (Coventry, R.I.) blasted a three-run shot as the big blow of the inning.
 
• A big triple by WNE freshman left fielder Jack Loftus (Hanover, N.H.) added three more runs to the board, giving Western an 8-7 lead, in the fourth.
 
• RIC took the lead for good in the sixth inning.
 
• Trzepacz went 3-for-4 with four RBI, three runs scored, a home run and a double.
 
• Grossguth went 2-for-6 with a homer and three RBI.
 
• Loftus had a home run and a triple for the Golden Bears.
 
• RIC junior pitcher Colin Gauthier (Pawtucket, R.I.) earned the win (2-0), striking out two in two innings of scoreless relief.
 
• WNE senior pitcher A.J. Bandura (Pine Bush, N.Y.) was saddled with the loss (0-1).
 
• With the win, RIC reached 20 wins for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The lone exception was the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
 
• RIC is currently on a nine-game winning streak.
 
 WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East action with a doubleheader at Eastern Connecticut on Saturday, April 23 (noon).