Salve Regina defeats Rhode Island Col., 3-2

NEWPORT, R.I. - Starting pitcher Gabe Cretella (Seymour, Conn.) threw five scoreless innings and was followed by five teammates on the mound over the final four innings as Salve Regina University baseball defeated Rhode Island College, 3-2, in a non-league game at Brother Michael Reynolds Field on the Seahawk campus.

Salve Regina (10-3) extends its season-long win streak to five games. The Seahawks took a 1-0 lead in their first at-bat when sophomore infielder Sean Becker (Richmond, Va.) came home on junior catcher Dominic Di Sano's (Central Falls, R.I.) sacrifice fly to right field. Junior DH Tyler Colby (Easton, Conn.) had doubled Becker to third after he had reached on a one-out single.

In the Seahawk third inning, freshman outfielder and two-time Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Rookie of the Week Ryan Kelly (Waldwick, N.J.) beat out a grounder to third for a one-out single. He later stole second and came around on Becker's second base hit, a liner to left center, for a 2-0 lead.

In Cretella's final inning, Rhode Island College loaded the bases with two outs. The Seahawk sophomore worked out of the jam retiring freshman catcher Matt Foley (Seekonk, Mass.) on a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop.

Freshman Mike Schuermann (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) came in for one batter in the sixth and the submarining southpaw induced a groundout from junior outfielder Alex Verrecchia (Cranston, R.I.).

Justin Rainville (Cumberland, R.I.) worked a full-count off Schuermann's successor, Alex Croce (Rumford, R.I.), and reached on an error by the Seahawk third baseman. One out later, Justin Costa (Cranston, R.I.) tripled home Rainville to cut the Seahawk lead in half, 2-1. Croce stranded the tying run at third by getting Mario Albunia (Jersey City, N.J.) to end the inning with a grounder to Anthony Conte (Georgetown, Mass.) at shortstop.

Di Sano doubled to open the next Seahawk frame. He advanced to third when Joe Haley (North Kingstown, R.I.) pulled the ball to the right side, first baseman unassisted. Freshman Ryan Sweenor (South Kingstown, R.I.) delivered the third Seahawk run with a line shot through the left side.

Senior shortstop Zach Hubbard (Kissimmee, Fla.) doubled to open the seventh for the Anchormen. Following a walk to senior outfielder Kevin Carey (Wakefield, R.I.), both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Hubbard scored on a fielder's choice grounder while Conte erased Carey with a perfect throw to Haley at third. Salve Regina now led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Senior lefty Kyle Florio (Plantsville, Conn.) relieved starter Dylan Cummiskey (Warwick, R.I.) and enjoyed a 1-2-3 with a strikeout and two grounders back to the mound. He added two more strikeouts in the next frame.

In the top of the ninth, junior closer Thomas Betros (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) faced the top of the order for the Anchormen. With the bases loaded and two outs, Betros ended the game with a flyout to Rich Cianci (Chester, N.J.) in left field. The win was the first for Salve Regina over Rhode Island College since 2006, and only the eighth all-time in 26 meetings.

Salve Regina plays at five-time conference champion Western New England University on Thursday after the CCC twinbill was rescheduled from Sunday. Rhode Island College (2-13) hosts Becker College on Wednesday in Providence.