Seahawks drop to Anchormen in extra innings

PROVIDENCE, R.I.- Senior first baseman Kyle Dumont (Pawtucket, R.I.) blasted a one-out home run (1) over the right field fence to lead Rhode Island College past Salve Regina, 9-8, in the 10th inning at Anchorman Field.

It was Dumont's first career homer. He entered the game in the top of the ninth as a defensive replacement and belted a 1-0 pitch for the walk-off winner. Dumont has had outstanding success against the Seahawks during his career, going 2-for-4 with two RBI in last year's, 9-5, win in Newport.

Rhode Island College (21-11) has won 11 of its last 14 games.

Salve Regina (14-23) took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sophomore shortstop Daniel Donohue (Westbury, N.Y.) took RIC freshman Dylan Cummiskey (Warwick, R.I.) deep to left with a home run (1) to lead off the frame. The Seahawks put runners on second and third with two down and sophomore catcher Dominic Di Sano (Central Falls, R.I.) tripled to the gap in right center to bring in a pair. Sophomore third baseman Anthony Conte (Georgetown, Mass.) singled through the left side to bring in Di Sano. Conte was eventually thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.

RIC stormed back to tie the game with four runs of its own in the home half of the first. Senior shortstop Kyle Allaire (Uxbridge, Mass.) singled to center and advanced to third on classmate catcher J.P. Stone's (Narragansett, R.I.) single down the right field line. Senior first baseman Dan Hopkins (Cranston, R.I.) plated Allaire with a sacrifice fly for the inning's first out.

The stanza then began to unravel for SRU junior starter Robin Lowe (Andover, Mass.). Senior left fielder Brent Hopkins (Cranston, R.I.) singled and sophomore designated hitter Alex Verrecchia (Cranston, R.I.) was issued a walk to load the bases. Freshman right fielder Dean Grasso (Cranston, R.I.) picked up an RBI walk, senior second baseman Joan Mustafa (Providence, R.I.) singled through the left side to bring in one and junior third baseman Cody Ortega (Kissimmee, Fla.) walked with the sacks full to tie the game.

The first inning took 30 minutes to complete. In the third, the visitors got back to work offensively as sophomore center fielder Tyler Colby (Easton, Conn.) singled to center with one down and was moved up to scoring position on a ground out. Di Sano doubled down the left field line and then scored on a Conte single to center field to make it a 6-4 game.

RIC answered back in the bottom of the inning with two runs to tie the game, 6-6. Grasso led off with a single and Mustafa followed with a walk. Ortega smacked a run-scoring single to left field and later scored on an Allaire RBI ground out.

After a scoreless fifth, Salve once again took a lead in the sixth. Di Sano singled and runners were on the corners after a Conte single. Junior first baseman Nicholas Gaj (Pawtucket, R.I.) then singled to right field to bring in Di Sano and Conte was able to score while Gaj was caught in a rundown between first and second, making it an 8-6 advantage.

In the eighth, Stone walked, stole second and was able to score on a wild pitch. Senior first baseman Dan Hopkins (Cranston, R.I.) worked a walk and was lifted for junior pinch runner Kyle Mann (Warwick, R.I.). Mann was sacrificed to second, took third on a wild pitch and tied the game on a Verrecchia RBI single to center field.

The two teams played a scoreless ninth as RIC senior reliever Eric Blanchard (Warwick, R.I.) retired all six batters he faced to set the stage for Dumont's heroics.

Blanchard ties junior David Hoey (Lincoln, R.I.) and freshman Stephen Lapatin (Cranston, R.I.) for the team lead in wins (4-1).

Ortega went 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and two RBI, while Stone went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a steal. Grasso also contributed two hits, a run scored and an RBI.

Di Sano went 3-for-3, finished a home run short of the cycle, scored three runs and registered three RBI. Conte and Colby also had three-hit afternoons. Sophomore Kevin Lambert (Fairfield, Conn.) took the loss (0-3).