Providence, R.I.--Freshman shortstop Lucas McElroy (Westport, Mass.) notched the game-winning walk-off hit as the Rhode Island College baseball team defeated WPI, 4-3, at Pontarelli Field on Thursday evening.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 4, WPI 3
Rhode Island College (13-10)
WPI (11-10)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Engineers scored first, going up 3-0 after a double by junior shortstop Jacob Hand (Niskayuna, N.Y.) in the top of the second inning.
 
• Junior right fielder Sean Helfrich (Saunderstown, R.I.) doubled in a run to cut the WPI lead down to two, 3-1, in the bottom of the frame.
 
• RIC slowly chipped at the Engineers' lead. Freshman third baseman CJ Almagno (North Providence, R.I.) registered an RBI single in the fourth inning and freshman first baseman Daniel Cascio (East Hampton, Conn.) tied the game in the sixth with a pinch-hit RBI single.
 
• Senior reliever Colin Gauthier (Pawtucket, R.I.) came on in the seventh inning and blanked the Engineers offense over the final three frames, which set the stage for a walk-off win in the host's final at-bat.
 
• Junior center fielder Cameron Santerre (Bristol, R.I.) led off the ninth with a rocket double off of the wall in center field. With the infield in, McElroy smoked a ground ball to short that skipped off of the diving glove of Hand and plated Santerre and to end the ballgame.
 
• McElroy went 3-for-4 with a walk and the game-winning RBI.


 
• Gauthier went three strong innings and picked up his first win of the season (1-2).
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East action with a doubleheader at Castleton on Saturday, April 8 (noon).