Providence, R.I.—Sophomore first baseman Daniel Trzepacz (Mont Vernon, N.H.) knocked in two runs, while senior Colin Gauthier (Pawtucket, R.I.) recorded his second strong relief appearance of the day, as No. 1-seeded Rhode Island College was eliminated by No. 2-seeded Eastern Connecticut, 8-5, in game nine of the 2023 Little East Baseball Championship played at Pontarelli Field on Friday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
No. 2 Eastern Connecticut 8, No. 1 Rhode Island College 5
Eastern Connecticut (33-10)
Rhode Island College (30-13)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Warriors jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning after an RBI ground out and a sacrifice fly brought in a pair of runs. In the second, ECSU scored on a RIC error to go up by three, 3-0.
 
• In the third inning, Trzepacz singled in two runs for the Anchormen, which cut the Warrior lead down to just one, 3-2.
 
• The defending national champs broke through in the fifth inning, scoring four runs thanks to multiple extra base hits.
 
• The Anchormen answered right back in the top of the sixth as senior left fielder Joey Coro (North Providence, R.I.) plated two with a deep double to right field.
 
• Junior shortstop Izaiah Rivera (Pawtucket, R.I.) added another run with a sacrifice fly to pull within a pair.
 
• The Warriors added an insurance run off of a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the eighth.
 
• The Anchormen loaded the bases in the ninth inning with one down, but the Warriors induced a game-ending double play to secure a berth in the finals.
 
• Coro went 1-for-4 with two RBI, while Trzepacz went 1-for-5 with a pair of RBI.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
• In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will wait for the NCAA Div. III Baseball Championship announcement on Monday in hopes of garnering an at-large bid.
 
• The Warriors will play No. 4-seeded UMass Boston in game 10 of the 2023 Little East Baseball Championship on Saturday, May 13 (noon) at Pontarelli Field.