Providence, R.I.--Sophomore Mike Shea (Smithfield, RI) and senior Alan Esposito (Clinton, CT) picked up wins at No. 5 and six singles, respectively, as Rhode Island College suffered its first Little East loss, 6-3, vs. Salem State in a match played at the RIC Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS
Salem State 6, Rhode Island College 3
Salem State (4-4, 3-1 LEC)
Rhode Island College (7-2, 4-1 LEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• RIC senior Matthew Gambardella (West Warwick, RI) and sophomore Ethan Hoy (West Warwick, RI) gave the Anchormen the first point of the afternoon as they took an 8-2 win over the SSU tandem of junior Noah Hodgkins (Winthrop, MA) and freshman Johnson Ngandjui (Lynn, MA) at No. 3 doubles. 

• The Vikings got an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles as sophomore Roni Bazile (Brockton, MA) and junior Mitchell Dyer (North Attleboro, MA) bested the RIC pairing of senior Chandler Scott (Ashaway, RI) and Shea.

• SSU took a 2-1 lead in the match as sophomore Andrew Muttiah (Colombo, Sri Lanka) and senior Chen Chen (Lawrence, MA) defeated sophomore Alex Bourque (North Smithfield, RI) and senior Alan Esposito (Clinton, CT), 8-2, at No. 1 doubles.

• Muttiah defeated Bourque (6-0, 6-1) at No. 1 singles, while Esposito answered with a win (6-2, 6-3) vs. Ngandjui at No. 6 singles.

• Chen defeated Hoy (6-3, 6-0) at No. 4 singles and Dyer downed Gambardella at No. 3 singles (6-4, 6-4) to clinch the match. 

• Bazile earned a straight set (6-3, 6-0) win over Scott at No. 2 singles, while Shea won (7-6 (7-2), 6-3) vs. Hodgkins to end the match.

WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Johnson & Wales on Thursday, April 18 (3:30 p.m.).