Baseball To Host Rhode Island College

BASEBALL TO HOST RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

The Matchup: Rhode Island College (18-7) at Elms College (7-11)
Date: Monday, April 14
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: MacKenzie Stadium (Holyoke, MA)
Click here for directions to MacKenzie Stadium
All-Time Series: The series is tied 1-1.
Last Meeting: Rhode Island College defeated Elms College 11-6 on April 18, 2006 at Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Setting The Scene: Elms College is coming off a crucial sweep of Friday's North Atlantic Conference (NAC) doubleheader at Husson College on Friday afternoon. The Blazers posted victories of 6-3 and 1-0 to move tied atop the conference standings with Thomas at 4-0. In game one, sophomore designated hitter Justin Jacobs (Springhill, FL) blasted a two-run triple as part of a three-run, third inning. Elms College then put the game out of reach with three more runs in the fifth that included a solo home run by freshman second baseman Hector Roche's ( San Cristobal, Dominican Republic) - his second of the year. Senior left fielder Joe Ferry (Palmer, MA) added a RBI single and Jacobs delivered a RBI sacrifice fly to cap off the inning. Junior pitcher RJ Vassallie (Long Branch, NJ) was outstanding for the Blazers, as he allowed just three runs and struck out five en route to his second win of the season. In the second game, freshman shortstop Brendan Cordeiro (Berkley, MA) provided the heroics, as he plated senior first baseman Scott Netkovick (South Hadley, MA) with the game's only run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh. Sophomore pitcher Mike Bieber (Wading River, NY) was sensational, as he allowed just four hits and struck out four en route to his first collegiate-career shutout. The Blazers have won four of their last five heading into tonight.
 
Scouting The Opposition: Rhode Island College, a member of the Little East Conference (LEC), brings a five-game win streak into its third-ever meeting with Elms College. During that streak, the Anchormen offense has exploded for 53 runs, and includes 10-plus run efforts in three of those games. Rhode Island College begins the week third in the eight-team LEC in team batting average (.331) and has six players hitting better than .350, including two batting better than .400. Senior second baseman Peter Olson (North Providence, RI) has recorded a team-leading .418 average with two homers, eight doubles and 22 RBI, while junior outfielder Chris O'Connors (North Kingstown, RI) has hit .411 with a homer, nine doubles and 21 RBI.      

On A Tear: Jacobs is batting .500 (5 for 10) over his last three games and has registered four multi-hit games for the Blazers this season. 

In Relief: Freshman pitcher Matt Wood (Feeding Hills, MA) threw 6.1 innings of solid relief at Wesleyan last Wednesday, as he allowed no earned runs on just four hits and also struck out seven.

Keeping Track of Blazers' Athletics: For the latest news, notes and statistics on all 15
intercollegiate teams at Elms College, visit our new athletics website at http://athletics.elms.edu/landing/index or call the Sports Information Hotline at 413-265-2414.