Providence, R.I. -- The Johnson & Wales University
baseball team ran their win streak to six games with an impressive
18-12 victory against intra-state rival Rhode Island College in a
non-conference contest at Anchorman Field on Wednesday
afternoon.
Senior third baseman Jonathan Melendez (Providence,
R.I.) went 5-for-7 with three home runs and seven RBI for
Johnson & Wales while sophomore starter Alex MacKay
(Sanford, Maine) earned his first win of the season for
the Wildcats.
Rhode Island College got out to the early lead in the bottom of
the first when they tallied six runs on five hits. Sophomore
J.P. Stone (Narragansett, R.I.) tallied a two-run
double and junior Justin Corso (Cranston, R.I.)
belted an RBI triple. Fellow junior Andy Sceeles (Seekonk,
Mass.) and sophomore Mike Nadiger (Warwick,
R.I.) each hit RBI singles in the inning for the
Anchormen.
The Wildcats responded in the top of the second when Melendez
belted a grand slam to right to cut the deficit to two runs, 6-4.
RIC added a run in the third as Nadiger brought in one with a deep
sacrifice fly to center field.
A five-run fourth gave Johnson & Wales its first lead of the
game. JWU junior second baseman Nick Alosco
(Mahopac, N.Y.) knotted the game with a three-run triple
to right field to tie the game, 7-7. Sophomore left fielder
Zach
Boyes (West Warwick, RI) singled in the go-ahead run.
After drawing a walk, junior designated hitter Teddy Katz
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) came home as part of a double steal to
give the visitors a 9-7 advantage.
With two outs in the fifth, senior center fielder Waldis Garcia
(Lowell, Mass.) blasted a two-run home run over the left
field fence to increase the Wildcats lead to 11-7. Melendez then
put JWU up 12-7 with a solo home run to left. Alosco opened the JWU
sixth with a solo shot to right on a deep fly ball that continued
to drift until it cleared the fence. Melendez hit a home run to
left field to put the Wildcats up, 15-7, in the seventh. With two
down in the frame, junior first baseman Matt Yaeger
(Glendale, Ariz.) doubled in
another run for the 16-7 advantage. In the eighth, junior
shortstop Mike Murphy
(Pawtucket, R.I.) recorded a sacrifice fly RBI and the
Wildcats tacked on another run for the 18-7 lead.
Stone knocked in two with a two-run double in the eighth for the
Anchormen. Sophomore Kyle Allaire (Uxbridge,
Mass.) and junior left fielder Ronnie Bracchi
(Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) ended RIC's offensive output with
an RBI single and two-run homer, respectively, in the ninth, but is
was not enough as JWU took the 18-12 victory.
Alosco went 2-for-5 with four RBI, two runs scored, a triple and a
homer. Boyes notched three hits for JWU while Garcia was 5-for-5
with five runs and two RBI for the Wildcats in the victory.
With the win Johnson & Wales is now 10-22 while Rhode Island
College falls to 16-6 for the season. The Wildcats will return to
action on Thursday, April 15th when they host Brandeis for a
non-conference contest, starting at 3:30 p.m.
