Providence, R.I.—No. 1-seeded Rhode Island College suffered its first loss in the 2023 Little East Baseball Championship, falling, 9-3, vs. No. 4-seeded UMass Boston in game five of the tourney played at Pontarelli Field on Thursday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
No. 4 UMass Boston 9, No. 1 Rhode Island College 3
UMass Boston (23-17)
Rhode Island College (29-12)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Anchormen spotted UMass Boston three runs over the first two innings. RIC put two on the board in the third as freshman second baseman Lucas McElroy (Westport, Mass.) and junior designated hitter Cole Podedworny (Wakefield, R.I.) each registered RBI singles.
 
• The Beacons scored five times in the fifth and added an insurance run in the sixth to build a 9-2 lead.
 
• Junior right fielder Sean Helfrich (Saunderstown, R.I.) knocked in one on an RBI ground out in the eighth to cap the Anchormen's offensive output on the day.
 
• Junior pitcher Terry Murray (Norfolk, Mass.) took the loss (8-2).
 
• Junior center fielder Cameron Santerre (Bristol, R.I.) went 4-for-4 with a run scored.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will face No. 3-seeded Southern Maine (elimination game) in game seven on Friday, May 12 (9 a.m.).