RIC’S SEASON ENDS IN, 14-8, LOSS TO OWLS

Keene, NH—Top-seeded Keene State ended fourth-seeded Rhode Island College’s season with a 14-8 win at the 2008 Little East Conference Baseball Tournament Thursday afternoon at the Owl Athletic Complex.

The Anchormen (24-15) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as senior first baseman Jim Connell (Smithfield, RI) led off with a solo home run (3) to left field.

Keene State (30-8) plated nine runs on nine hits in the fifth inning, capitalizing on two RIC errors. The Owls bashed three home runs in the frame as sophomore first baseman Beau Darak (Londonderry, NH) launched a solo shot, while senior right fielder Greg Ford (Nashua, NH) and freshman left fielder Bobby Doyon (Keene, NH) each belted two-run blasts.

The Anchormen chipped away at the deficit, scoring five unanswered runs over the next three innings to pull within three, 9-6. Junior center fielder B.J. Doyon (Douglas, MA) notched an RBI single and senior second baseman Peter Olson (North Providence, RI) smacked an RBI double in the fifth.

Junior catcher Jordan Amorin (Swansea, MA) plated two with a single in the sixth and Connell doubled in a run the following inning. After the Owls added a run in the eighth, RIC pulled within two, 10-8, in the home half of the frame. Junior right fielder Chris O’Connors (North Kingstown, RI) and classmate shortstop Josh Cardoso (Dartmouth, MA) each ripped RBI doubles.

KSC put the game out of reach with four runs in the top of the ninth to seal the win. O’Connors led RIC, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored, one RBI and two doubles. Connell went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI, a homer and a double.

RIC senior starting pitcher Evan Grogan (East Lyme, CT) took the loss (4-3). Keene State sophomore reliever Mike Riley (East Hartford, CT) earned the win (3-2).

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