FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2008

RIC WINS SEVENTH STRAIGHT IN, 13-3, VICTORY
OVER WILDCATS
Costa Paces RIC Attack With Three Hits and Three RBI

Providence, RI—Rhode Island College junior third baseman Jeff Costa (Pawtucket, RI) went 3-for-5 with three RBI, three runs scored and belted his first home run of the season as the Anchormen cruised past cross-city rival Johnson & Wales, 13-3, at Anchorman Field on Tuesday afternoon.

RIC (20-7) reaches the 20-win mark for third straight season, winning for the seventh straight time and 12^th in its past 14. Johnson and Wales falls to 21-11 on the season.

Junior Jeff Costa

Rhode Island College jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on junior right fielder Chris O’Connors’ (North Kingstown, RI) RBI single. The Anchormen added three runs in the second, highlighted by senior designated hitter Pete Olson’s (North Providence, RI) and junior shortstop Josh Cardoso’s (Dartmouth, MA) RBI singles.

The Wildcats got on the board in the fourth as junior third baseman Jonathan Melendez (Providence, RI) belted a leadoff homer (4). Costa put the game out of reach with a two-out, three-run bomb in the home half of the fifth.

RIC added two runs in each of the final three innings, including a solo homer (2) by senior first baseman Jim Connell (Smithfield, RI) to leadoff the eighth.

Senior starting pitcher Evan Grogan (East Lyme, CT) threw the first four innings, allowing one run on six hits, while striking out six. Freshman Rob Rushton (Freetown, MA) hurled three innings of effective relief to earn his third win (3-0) of the season. Sophomores Eric Gelsomino (Johnston, RI) and Bobby Venditto (Cranston, RI) pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

Johnson & Wales senior starting pitcher Josh Hodge (Sherburne, NY) took the loss (2-4), allowing nine runs, six of which were earned, on 11 hits in six innings of work. Senior Mike Wengzn (Manchester, CT) came on in the seventh to close out the game.

The top four batters in Rhode Island College’s starting nine, went a combined 11-for-21 with eight RBI and eight runs scored. In addition to Costa, Olson and O’Connors each went 3-for-5 with two RBI, while junior center fielder B.J. Doyon (Douglas, MA) went 2-for-6 with two runs scored, a double and one RBI.

Melendez fell a triple shy of the cycle with a 3-for-4 showing, which included a double, a home run, one run scored and one RBI.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to Curry tomorrow afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. game.

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