Fort Myers, Fla.--Junior right fielder Sean Helfrich (Saunderstown, R.I.) launched a homer and freshman second baseman Lucas McElroy (Westport, Mass.) went 4-for-6 as the Rhode Island College baseball team defeated North Central (Minn.), 17-7 (8 innings), at the Gene Cusic Classic on Tuesday morning.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 17, North Central (Minn.) 7 (8 innings)
Rhode Island College (3-4)
North Central (0-5)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Helfrich started the game off with a sacrifice fly that scored junior center fielder Cameron Santerre (Bristol, R.I.) to give RIC a 1-0 advantage.
 
• It took until the fourth inning for any team to score again, and both teams exploded. RIC grabbed five runs, three on a bases-clearing double by sophomore first baseman Daniel Trzepacz (Mont Vernon, N.H.), which was then followed up by a Helfrich two-run bomb.
 
• The Rams nickeled and dimed their way four RBI hits in the bottom of the frame, capped off with a two-run home run by junior third baseman Daniel Montana (Tucson, Ariz.) to make the game, 6-5, in the Anchormen's favor.
 
• RIC did even more damage in the later innings, tagging NCU pitching for six runs in the sixth, one on the seventh and four more in the eighth, which triggered the 10-run rule and ended the game an inning early.
 
• Helfrich was 1-for-3 with a homer, a run scored and five RBI.
 
• Santerre went 2-for-2 with four walks, four runs scored and two stolen bases.
 
• RIC sophomore reliever Liam Dailey (Franklin, Mass.) got the win (1-0), hurling 4.1 innings and striking out four batters.
 
• NCU freshman Michael Escalante (Tucson, Ariz.) was the losing pitcher (0-2).
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will face Alvernia at the Gene Cusic Classic on Wednesday, March 8 (9 a.m.).