Providence, R.I.--Freshman reliever Cameron Early (Worcester, Mass.) pitched three innings of scoreless relief for his first career save as Rhode Island College clinched the final spot in the upcoming 2024 Little East Baseball Championship with a 9-8 win over VTSU Castleton, 9-8, in the second game of an LEC doubleheader played at Pontarelli Field on Friday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 9, VTSU Castleton 8
Rhode Island College (16-17, 6-10 LEC)
VTSU Castleton (9-29, 5-11 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Junior first baseman Daniel Trzepacz (Mont Vernon, N.H.), senior center fielder Justin Wardwell (Westport, Mass.), junior pitcher Harrison Mansfield (Uxbridge, Mass.), senior pitcher Jake Randall (Warwick, R.I.) and senior right fielder Sean Helfrich (Saunderstown, R.I.) were all honored, along with their families prior to game one of today's twinbill as part of Senior Day.
 
• The Anchormen jumped out to the early lead with a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Freshman left fielder Daniel Cascio (East Hampton, Conn.) registered an RBI double in the frame.
 
• A two-run single by the Spartans in the top of the second cut the Anchormen's lead to one, 3-2.
 
• RIC went on top, 5-3, in the fourth, paced by RBI singles from senior designated hitter Cole Podedworny (Wakefield, R.I.) and sophomore third baseman Lucas McElroy (Westport, Mass.).
 
• Castleton picked up one run in the fifth and four in the sixth to lead by three, 8-5.
 
• The Anchormen responded in kind with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame, which included back-to-back doubles by senior shortstop Izaiah Rivera (Pawtucket, R.I.) and Cascio to take a 9-8 lead.
 
• Early would shut down the Spartans over the last three innings, which included two strikeouts in the ninth, to earn the save.
 
• Freshman reliever Stephen Sullivan (Acton, Mass.) earned his first collegiate win (1-1).
 
• Trzepacz and Cascio each went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Podedworny and McElroy each went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, No. 6-seeded Rhode Island College will play at No. 1 seed and tournament host UMass Boston on Wednesday, May 8 (noon).