APICE’S FOUR HOMERS LEAD ANCHORMEN PAST FRAMINGHAM STATE, 19-10

Providence, R.I.--Sophomore right fielder Edward Apice (North Kingstown, RI) went 4-for-5 with four home runs, four runs scored and seven RBI as Rhode Island College crushed Framingham State, 19-10, at Anchorman Field on Thursday afternoon.

The Anchormen (12-16-2) also got a strong performance from junior designated hitter Austin Barry (North Kingstown), who also went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, four RBI, a double and a home run.

The Rams (10-16) tagged RIC freshman starter Justin Conti (Lincoln, RI) for two runs in the top of the first. An error and a double by freshman shortstop Anthony Venuti (Braintree, MA) put runners on second and third with nobody out. Junior designated hitter Ryan Wardwell (Hudson, MA) and junior first baseman Manny Powers (Malden, MA) followed with back-to-back RBI groundouts to stake FSU to a 2-0 advantage.

Sophomore right fielder Edward Apice

RIC responded with two runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game up. Apice led off with a solo homer and junior catcher Tyler Rains (North Kingstown, RI) brought in another later in the frame with an RBI single.

FSU went ahead with a run in the third inning as sophomore left fielder Kyle Pileski (Bristol, CT) singled with two outs to give the visitors a 3-2 lead.

The Anchormen had two runners aboard in the fourth with two down when Barry ripped a three-run shot over the left field fence. Junior first baseman TJ Lynch (South Kingstown, RI) contributed an RBI single and Apice crushed a two-run bomb to give RIC an 8-3 lead.

Framingham stormed right back in the fifth, keyed by a Pileski three-run homer to cut FSU’s deficit down to two, 8-6. The Rams loaded the bases with only one out, but junior reliever Jake Roy (Seekonk, MA) came on and induced an inning-ending double play to keep the Anchormen on top.

Apice went yard again in the sixth, crushing a three-run homer to right field to give RIC an 11-6 lead. The Anchormen put five additional runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh, highlighted by Apice’s fourth dinger of the day, a two-run shot to right field as the Anchormen raised their advantage to 10 runs, 16-6.

The visitors elected to keep playing the game, despite the 10-run lead after seven innings for the hosts. The move paid off in the eighth, which saw the Rams score four times, paced by a two-run single by Pileski.

The Anchormen tacked on three more in the home half of the eighth, led by a two-run double by junior catcher Nate Cahoone (Westerly, RI) to cap the game’s offense.

RIC senior reliever Kory Lawrence (Woonsocket, RI) picked up the win (2-1). FSU senior starter Zach Kirby (Rochester, MA) took the loss (2-4).

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East Conference action at Eastern Connecticut on Saturday, April 23 (noon).