Nine Run Eighth Propels Baseball to 14-10 Victory at RIC
Providence, R.I. - The Framingham State University Rams overcame a five-run deficit to pour on 11 runs over the final two innings en route to a 14-10 comeback victory this afternoon over Rhode Island College in non-conference baseball action at Anchorman Field.
Framingham State improves to 23-13 with the win, while Rhode Island College falls to 21-12.
Senior shortstop Kyle Allaire (Uxbridge, Mass.) got the Anchormen started in the bottom of the first with a walk. Allaire stole second and senior catcher J.P. Stone (Narragansett, RI) was issued another free pass by Framingham State freshman starter Patrick Murray (Framingham, Mass.) to put runners on first and second. Dan Hopkins singled to right field to bring in Allaire and Stone later scored on an RBI fielder's choice ground out by senior left fielder Brent Hopkins (Cranston, RI), giving RIC the early, 2-0, lead.
With one out in the fourth, Framingham State junior right fielder Will Crofton (Hopkinton, Mass.) singled to center field and moved up to third on senior designated hitter Pedro Acevedo's (Fall River, Mass.) double to right center. After inducing an infield pop-out, RIC freshman pitcher Kyle Morvan (Smithfield, RI) issued a walk to sophomore first baseman Matt Roberge (Lowell, Mass.). Crofton would score on a wild pitch before Morvan got out of the jam with a ground out, pulling the Rams within one.
RIC bounced back in the bottom of the fourth as Dan Hopkins (Cranston, RI), who went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, three RBI and a run scored on the day, doubled and moved over to third after Brent Hopkins reached on an error. Brent Hopkins stole second to put runners on second and third with no outs, and after a strikeout, freshman right fielder Dean Grasso (Cranston, RI) brought in the lead runner on an RBI ground out. Brent Hopkins then scored on senior second baseman Joan Mustafa's (Providence, RI) triple to left center field to give the hosts a 4-1 advantage.
RIC tacked on some insurance runs in the fifth as Allaire punched a one-out single to center field and came home on Stone's RBI double. Dan Hopkins followed with another RBI double to plate Stone, which chased Murray from the game. Freshman reliever Zach Kirby (Rochester, Mass.) came on to induce a ground out and a fly out to keep it a 6-1 ballgame.
In the sixth, the Rams mounted a comeback bid as junior second baseman Justin Forman (Watertown, Mass.) singled and moved up to third on a Roberge double. Sophomore catcher Tony Iafolla (Medfield, Mass.) followed with a two-run double to left field to make it a 6-3 contest and chase Morvan from the game. Junior reliever Chris Mann (West Warwick, RI) was brought in and picked up two quick outs to stem the tide.
However, RIC added two more runs in the seventh after junior center fielder Kevin Carey (Wakefield, RI) and Allaire opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Brent Hopkins followed with a two-run double off the left field fence to give the Anchormen an 8-3 lead.
Framingham State mounted its monumental comeback in the top of the eighth, as the Rams loaded the bases with no outs to open the frame after a leadoff single, a hit batsman and a walk. RIC's bullpen then surrendered three consecutive walks, resulting in three runs and pulling FSU within two.
Still with no outs in the inning, senior center fielder Chris Blydell (Lynn, Mass.) ripped the game-tying two-run double that made it, 8-8. After the Anchormen finally recorded an out, Framingham State continued its scoring onslaught as a two-run single from Crofton gave the Rams their first lead of the game. FSU then plated two more runs to take a 12-8 lead thanks to an RBI single from Forman and an RBI groundout from Iafolla.
The Rams tacked on two more in the top of the ninth as freshman third baseman Mark Mainini (Hull, Mass.), who blasted a leadoff double, was brought home on an RBI double from freshman shortstop Cam Couillard (North Andover, Mass.). Couillard would later score on a wild pitch to give FSU a 14-8 lead.
After Allaire drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth, Stone laced a single through the left side to put a pair of runners on base. Dan Hopkins continued his hot streak with an RBI single to center field, scoring Allaire and keeping RIC's hopes of a comeback alive. Stone scored on a wild pitch to make it, 14-10, but FSU sophomore pitcher Brendan Busa (Framingham, Mass.) retired the final two batters to slam the door on the Anchormen.
Kirby registered the win for the Rams (2-3) after scattering four runs on six hits and a walk through four innings of relief.
Morvan did not factor into the decision, despite allowing just three runs on seven hits and two walks through 5.1 innings of work. Senior reliever Mike DeWald (Hope Valley, RI) was tagged with the loss (0-1) for the Anchormen.
Iafolla led the Rams with four RBI and a run scored, while Acevedo went 3-for-6 with a double and two runs scored. Crofton went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, while Blydell, Forman and Mainini each finished with multiple hits as well.
Aside from Dan Hopkins' performance at the dish, RIC received a boost from Brent Hopkins, who finished with three RBI and a run scored. Meanwhile, Allaire went 3-for-3 with four runs scored, while Stone went 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to Babson tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m., while the Rams travel to Curry tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
Release courtesy of RIC Sports Information.