BOSTON – The Suffolk baseball team took both ends of its doubleheader at Rhode Island College on Saturday, as the Rams (11-3) defeated the Anchormen consecutively, 5-2 and 13-0 at Anchormen Field.
Once again, Suffolk received solid efforts from its staff on the hill, with both starters Chuck Gibson and Kevin Sinatra picking up victories on the day. In the first game, Gibson was electric, tossing a complete seven innings of two-hit ball, giving up just two runs, while walking two and striking out six. Sinatra earned the shutout, the Rams' first of the season and the first of the freshman's career. The East Boston, Massachusetts product tossed a complete two-hit game with two walks and four punchouts.
Offensively, Suffolk continued its outpouring of hits in the series, combing for 23 on Saturday - 11 in game one, 12 in game two. Kevin Belskie (3-for-4, 2R, 1RBI), Sean Cameron (2-for-5, 2R, 1RBI), Drew Carter (3-for-6, 1R, 3RBI), Brady Chant (3-for-8), Jake Frasca (4-for-6, 3R, 3RBI), Jon Lapolla (2-for-8, 3R), Rob Marks (2-for-6, 2R, 2RBI) and Julien Plana (2-for-3, 1R, 1RBI) all found success at the plate; each Ram enjoyed multi-hit outings.
In game one, the two clubs went back-and-forth to start things up. Frasca put Suffolk up 1-0 in the second after doubling to left center, making it to third on a wild pitch and coming home on a Carter single to third base. Rhode Island (6-8-1) took the lead in the bottom of the third, where the score held until the top of the sixth when the Rams scored two. With one out, Marks notched a solo home run. Lapolla, who singled up the middle with two outs, was brought home by Carter's double down the left line.
In the seventh Suffolk tacked on two more. With the bases loaded and one out, Marks drew a walk to score Matt Brenner. The Rams capitalized on Dylan Pingitore's wild pitch and Cameron came around to score for the final 5-2 tally.
Game two was an offensive onslaught for Suffolk after a pitcher's duel through the first two. After Sinatra sat down the Anchromen was ease in the second, Suffolk got on the scoreboard in the third, before xploding in the fourth to take control. The Rams reeled off four runs on five hits. Frasca, Plana and Cameron all scored in the inning and each registered an RBI in the frame.
Not done with crossing the plate, Suffolk added three more in the fifth, four in the sixth and one more in the top of the seventh to close out the game.
Moving forward, Suffolk will turn its attention to MIT as the Rams are set to open their home slate versus the Engineers Monday, March 28 at 4 p.m.