Baseball Claims Non-Conference Win At Rhode Island College

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Elms College baseball squad picked up an 8-4 non-conference victory over host Rhode Island College at Pontarelli Field Wednesday afternoon. With the win, the Blazers improve to 5-9 on the season, while the Anchormen drop to 11-7 overall.

After three scoreless innings, the Blazers dented the scoreboard behind leadoff singles from senior Jordan Zima (Berlin, Conn.) and Stephen Harrison (Southbury, Conn.). With two outs, the Anchormen misplayed a ball, allowing Zima to touch home from third, staking the Blazers to a 1-0 lead. In the top of the fifth, senior Kyle Platner (Northfield, Mass.) ripped an RBI single to left field, and then came around to score on a RBI groundout from Harrison to push Elms ahead 3-0.

The Blazers poured it on in the top of the sixth with a five run inning, ignited by two-out RBI single from Platner. Zima followed with an RBI single to score sophomore Alex Hoss (Stafford Springs, Conn.), and then Platner raced home on a wild pitch to extend the gap to 6-0. Senior Tim Gelzinis (North Dighton, Mass.) cleared the bases with a two-run single to centerfield, pushing the Blazers to an 8-0 advantage.

The Anchormen attempted a comeback, posting four runs with two outs in the bottom of the frame, kicked off by an RBI single from freshman Rommy Morel (Providence, R.I.). Two runs came home on an RBI single from freshman Nate Vigeant (Coventry, R.I.), and then junior Brad Douglas (Wakefield, Mass.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home the final run of the day. The Elms bullpen limited the Anchormen to two baserunners over the final three innings to secure the 8-4 victory. Elms earns their first win over the Anchormen since the 2005 season.

The Blazers racked up 12 hits in the game, paced by Platner who drove in two runs on two hits and scored once. Zima and senior Aedin Wadja (Lebanon, Conn.) both went 2-for-5 and scored twice, while Harrison went 2-for-4 with run scored. Gelzinis added two RBIs in the win. Freshman Jacob Graveline (2-2; Palmer, Mass.) claimed the win in relief, allowing one hit in an inning of work.

Morel paced the Anchormen with a 4-for-4 day at the dish. Vigeant knocked three hits with an RBI. Junior Daniel Greaves (2-2; Warwick, R.I.) took the loss, surrendering six runs, three earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts.

The Blazers will be back on the diamond when they face Newbury in a New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader at the New England Baseball Complex Saturday afternoon starting at 1:00 p.m. Rhode Island College takes on UMass-Boston in a Little East Conference doubleheader Saturday at Noon.

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