Gorham, Maine--Freshman designated hitter Jarrad Grossguth (Coventry, R.I.) drove in a pair of runs to lead No.3-seeded Rhode Island College past No. 6-seeded Castleton, 8-3, in the opening round of the Little East Baseball Championship at Southern Maine's Ed Flaherty Field on Thursday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
No. 2 Rhode Island College 8, No. 6 Castleton 3
Rhode Island College (22-9)
Castleton (9-22)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Castleton plated the first run of the game in the opening frame with a pair of singles that eventually brought in freshman left fielder Armando Cardenas (Mesa, Ariz.) to stake the Spartans to a 1-0 lead.
 
• The Anchormen evened the score at one apiece in the third inning as freshman first baseman Cal Parrillo (Greenville, R.I.) hit a gap shot to right center that brought in senior third basemen Ray Zincone (West Warwick, R.I.) from second base.
 
• RIC pushed across the go ahead run in the fourth as freshman catcher David Iannuccilli (Johnston, R.I.) scored on a wild pitch.
 
• Castleton took the lead, 3-2, in the visitor's half of the sixth with the help of a junior first basemen Evan Keegan (Malone, N.Y.) RBI double to right center.
 
• The Anchormen used a big sixth inning to take the lead, 8-3. The six-run outburst was highlighted by a Grossguth two-run double into left center and an Iannuccilli RBI single down the left field line.
 
• RIC sophomore pitcher Seth Daly (Riverside, R.I.) had a solid performance on the mound, hurling 6.0 innings, allowing just one unearned run on six hits to go along with three strikeouts, in the win (4-1).
 
• Castleton senior reliever Richard Walker (Swanton, Vt.) took the loss (2-5).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
• Zincone went 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and a walk. Iannuccilli went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
• The Anchormen drew seven walks as a club.
 
• Keegan led the Spartans, going 2-for-4 with one run scored and a pair of RBI.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Tournament action at No. 2-seeded Southern Maine on Thursday, May 13 (4:15 p.m.).