Baseball Triumphs 16-10 in Slugfest with Rhode Island College
Providence, R.I. - The Framingham State University baseball team received five hits and five RBI from senior John Gill (Hudson, Mass.) as the Rams defeated Rhode Island College 16-10 this afternoon in non-conference action at Anchorman Field.
The Rams improve to 20-14 with the victory and have reached the 20 win mark in back to back seasons for the first time since 1996 and 1997. The Anchormen fall to 18-9 on the year with the loss.
Rhode Island College freshman second baseman Shaun Vigeant (Coventry, RI) went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI to pace the hosts.
The Rams struck for two runs in the top of the first on a two-run double to center field by Gill. The Anchormen responded in the bottom half of the frame, plating five runs on two hits. Following the two leadoff batters getting on base after being hit, there were back-to-back walks issued to drive in a run. Freshman first baseman Frank Pettinato (Cranston, RI) recorded a two-run single and a single by junior shortstop Gian Abbruzzese (North Providence, RI) drove in the last two runs of the frame.
The two teams traded runs in the second inning to make the score 6-3 after two frames. Senior Matt Gerard (Milford, Mass.) homered for the Rams in the top of the inning and the Anchormen scored on a wild pitch.
The Rams cut the deficit down to one in the third with a pair of RBI singles from Gill and Ryan Connelly (West Roxbury, Mass.) before taking control of the contest in the fourth inning. With a three runs already crossing the plate in the inning, senior designated hitter Kevin Driscoll (Chelmsford, MA) blasted a two-out, two-run homer to give the visitors a 10-6 advantage through four innings.
An RBI single in the fifth from freshman Jordan Pallazola (Rockport, Mass.) made the score 11-5 FSU. Driscoll struck again in the top of the sixth when he singled and was driven in on a double by junior Jake Wardwell (Hudson, Mass.).
The Anchormen bounced back in the bottom of the frame with Vigeant driving in the first of four runs in the inning on a single through the right side. He would later score on a single to left field by senior right fielder Pat Rogers (Waterford, CT).
The Rams would tack on two runs on in both the seventh and ninth innings, while holding the Anchormen scoreless over the final third of the game to take the convincing, 16-10, victory.
Vigeant went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while Rogers, Pettinato and Abbruzzese each drove in a pair of runs for the Anchormen. Gill paced the Rams, going 5-for-6 with five RBI and three runs scored, while Pallazola also finished with five hits and four runs scored.
Rhode Island College freshman pitcher Dan Greaves (Warwick, RI) went 3.2 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits, while striking out five in the loss (2-1). FSU freshman pitcher Kevin Connelly (Bolton, MA) went 6.0 innings, allowing 10 runs, on eight hits with four strikeouts in the victory (4-1).
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East Conference play with a doubleheader against Western Connecticut on Saturday, April 25 (noon), while the Rams head to Curry tomorrow for a non-conference game beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Release courtesy of RIC Sports Information