FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 7, 2008

HUSKIES COME FROM BEHIND TO DOWN ANCHORMEN, 6-5
Late Game Long Balls Sink Anchormen

Keene, NH—Southern Maine junior left fielder Anthony D’Alfonso (Westbrook, ME) belted a three-run home run with one out in the bottom of the eighth to lead the third-seeded Huskies past fourth-seeded Rhode Island  College, 6-5, in first round action of the 2008 Little East Conference Baseball Tournament, hosted by Keene State College.

The Anchormen (24-14) held a 5-2 lead heading into the eighth frame before the Huskies (30-10) broke through. Junior left fielder Ryan Pike (Saco, ME) led off with a home run, then after a strikeout, junior first baseman Andrew Stacy (Denmark, ME) singled. RIC senior starting pitcher Eric Thibault (Somerset, MA) was lifted for junior closer Eric Fama (Wappingers Falls, NY). A walk to sophomore designated hitter Collin Henry (Penobscot, ME) set the stage for D’Alfonso’s heroics.

Rhode Island College took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on senior second baseman Pete Olson’s (North Providence, RI) RBI ground out. The Anchormen fell behind, 2-1, in the fourth as D’Alfonso smacked an RBI double and freshman catcher Jordan Berthiaume (Berlin, CT) notched an RBI single.

The Anchormen took a 5-2 lead in the sixth with a three-run effort. Junior right fielder Chris O’Connors (North Kingstown, RI) led off with a home run (3), junior shortstop Josh Cardoso (Dartmouth, MA) scored on a wild pitch and sophomore left fielder Jared Rossi (Johnston, RI) rounded out the offensive output with an RBI double.

Fama took the loss (0-2). Thibault hurled 7.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out four. USM senior starting pitcher Adam Ross (Spruce Head, ME) did not factor in the decision, allowing four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Junior reliever Tim Therrian (New Portland, ME) picked up the win (3-2), allowing just one unearned run on two hits in 3.0 innings. Junior Chris Burleson (Portland, ME) came on in the ninth to earn his second save.

Rhode Island College will face elimination when it squares off with top-seeded Keene State tomorrow at noon.

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