FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 29, 2008

ANCHORMEN SWEEP PLYMOUTH STATE
RIC Opens Little East Slate With Two Wins

Providence, RI—The Rhode Island College baseball team opened the Little East Conference schedule with a doubleheader sweep of Plymouth State Saturday afternoon at Anchorman Field. RIC took game one, 9-7, and won the nightcap, 12-2. Rhode Island College raises its record to 10-5 overall and 2-0 in the LEC, with PSU falls to 4-11 and 0-2 in league play.

The Anchormen jumped out to a 5-0 lead after four innings, only to see the Panthers claw their way back to take a 7-5 advantage heading into the bottom of the eighth in the first contest. RIC pushed four runs across in the eighth, led by senior second baseman Pete Olson’s (North Providence, RI) RBI single and junior shortstop Josh Cardoso’s (Dartmouth, MA) two-run, go-ahead single up the middle. Sophomore reliever Paul Vatter (Warwick, RI) picked his first win (1-0) of the season, while junior closer Eric Fama (Wappingers Falls, NY) slammed the door shut in the ninth to record his second save. Senior starting pitcher Eric Thibault (Somerset, MA) gave up four runs, two of which were earned, on six hits, while striking out five in six innings of work. PSU freshman reliever Chris Bryant (Lebanon, NH) suffered his first loss (0-1) of the season, giving up four runs, three of which were earned, on four hits in just a third of an inning.

Olson went 3-for-5 with an RBI-double and a run scored, while junior right fielder Chris O’Connors (North Kingstown, RI) went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Cardoso chipped in with two hits (2-for-5) with three RBI. Plymouth State junior third baseman Jay Kleponis (Reading, MA) went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Junior Chris O'Connors

Rhode Island College scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure the second half of the twinbill. O’Connors once again had a solid showing from the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Senior designated hitter Robert Reyes (Providence, RI) went 3-for-5 with three RBI, a two-run homer (3) and a run scored. Cardoso went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored as well. Freshman starting pitcher Gary Levesque (East Providence, RI) limited PSU to just two runs on four hits, while striking out four in six strong innings of work to earn his first collegiate victory (1-0). Vatter hurled two innings of scoreless relief, allowing just a single hit, while striking out two. PSU junior starting pitcher Taylor Ketchum (Fairhaven, MA) took the loss (1-2).

In the two games, Olson went 5-for-9 with one RBI and four runs scored. O’Connors went 5-for-7 with four RBI and four runs scored. Cardoso went 4-for-8 with six RBI and two runs scored.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Bridgewater State on Monday, Mar. 31 at 3:30 p.m.

-Complete box score to follow-