PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth advanced the tying run within 90 feet with one out in the top of the ninth, but Rhode Island College recorded consecutive strikeouts to escape the jam and earn a 4-3 Little East Conference victory this afternoon at Pontarelli Field.
Rhode Island College (7-8, 2-3 LEC) first-year Terry Murphy (Norfolk, Mass.) earned his first collegiate victory (1-1) by keeping the visitors off-balance over seven innings, while junior Shaun Gamelin (West Kingstown, R.I) compiled four strikeouts to record a two-inning save for the Anchormen. Murphy limited UMass Dartmouth (3-8, 2-5) to just one earned run on two hits and three punchouts.
Senior
Erick Ramirez (Boston, Mass.) registered two hits, a run scored, and RBI to pace the Corsair offensive attack. Classmate
Mike Knell (Dennis, Mass.) penned an RBI single into his ledger and senior
Jose Vasquez (Roxbury, Mass.) produced the remaining base knock.
Rhode Island College took advantage of three Corsair defensive miscues and utilized timely hitting to produce all four runs with two outs. First-year Cal Parrillo (Greenville, R.I.) drove in a pair of runs with a single to left centerfield in the bottom of the first, while classmate Cameron Santerre (Bristol, R.I.) tripled down the right field line and scored on an errant throw in the second to build an early 3-0 lead.
UMass Dartmouth scored twice in the third to trim its deficit to 3-2 on a Ramirez a single into right field to plate Vasquez. Senior
JR DiSarcina (Barnstable, Mass.) scored all the way from first base when the RIC outfielder misplayed the ball.
The Anchormen scored an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch to extend their lead to 4-2. The Corsairs responded the following frame, when Knell singled to left field to drive in Ramirez.
Trailing 4-3 in the top of the ninth, senior
Tucker Hetherman (Webster, Mass.) worked a lead off and sophomore pinch runner
Nick Cote (Londonderry, N.H.) stole second base. The Corsairs executed a sacrifice bunt up the first base line to move Cote to third. Gamelin thwarted the visitors' comeback bid by striking out No. 8 and No. 9 batters to seal the conference win.
UMass Dartmouth combined to use for pitchers this afternoon. Senior
Shane Reardon (Kinnelon, N.J.) suffered the setback after giving up three runs on six hits and striking out five over five innings. Senior
Zack DelVecchio (Braintree, Mass.), classmate
Logan Maitland (Tiverton, R.I.), and graduate student
Robbie Carrillo (Melrose, Mass.) each gave up a hit in an inning of work.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 3:30pm on Wednesday, April 14, when the Corsairs host Rhode Island College in Division III contest. Fans can watch all the action on Littleeast.tv.
