Cam Laramee’s relief guides baseball to 6-2 win over Wentworth

Tim Yean

Sports Editor

Warmups prior to April 8’s matchup (photo by Tim Yean).

(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) – First-year pitcher Cameron Laramee entered the third inning and never looked back as his eight strikeouts helped lead Rhode Island College to a home victory over the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards, 6-2 on Wednesday afternoon, April 8.

It’s the freshman’s first career win, holding the Leopards’ offense to two runs on six hits through seven innings of work. His win also makes for the Anchormen’s first win at Pontarelli Field this year, and their second straight win after taking game two of a Little East Conference doubleheader at Western Connecticut State University the day prior. 

Second-year left fielder George Threats had three hits on the day with one double, sending a runner in while scoring a run himself. First-year third baseman Jake Novak had two RBI in the win.

Wentworth deployed eight pitchers on the chilly Wednesday defeat for the visitors, the visitors combined allowing nine hits and walking two. Right fielder Cyle Archer led the visitors batting, going 2-for-5 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base.

The Anchormen began the game with second-year Ben Nowinski on the mound, quickly getting things started at the top of the first with a strikeout against Wentworth’s leadoff batter. A hit and two groundouts later sealed up the quick opening top half. 

RIC, on the other hand, was able to get things going early. Third-year second baseman Aidan Bolwell was able to get on base and was eventually sent in by fourth-year right fielder CJ Almagno’s sacrifice fly to punch in the first run of the game. First-year designated hitter Jace Wolfradt’s RBI single established a two-nothing lead entering the second frame for the Anchormen.

After another scoreless inning from Wentworth, the Leopards made an early pitching change as they booted their starter, Michael Archambault, for Jacob DeCoste. RIC would follow up with their own early substitution after a scoreless bottom of the second, substituting Nowinski for Cameron Laramee.

Wentworth’s time at the bats for the top of the third inning would be short as Laramee and the RIC fielding held the Leopards to a 1-2-3 inning.

Jake Novak added another two runs with a hit up the middle to double the hosts’ advantage, 4-0, bringing in Jace Wolfradt and George Threats, who previously got on base with singles for both hitters.

The fourth inning brought in an additional run for RIC. Wentworth sent in another reliever, Connor Whitehead, who immediately walked third-year shortstop Parker Camelo. Camelo would make his way up the bases, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Aidan Bolwell’s flyout to center field allowed Camelo to head back to home plate. Another walk right after for fourth-year first baseman Daniel Cascio forced Whitehead off the hill, pitching just two-thirds of the fourth frame.

Laramee started the top of the fifth inning with two opening strikeouts. The Leopards would finally find home plate in the fifth inning with a lone run brought in by an RBI single from Lukas Poirier, but a groundout following the score limited any momentum Wentworth could have gained.

RIC’s final run of the day came with an RBI double from George Threats to provide the Anchormen with a 6-1 advantage.

Wentworth’s final push in the ninth inning found their first three batters able to get on-base to load up for a potentially huge play. After a swinging strikeout by catcher Jake Bartlett, Cyle Archer would bring in a runner with a center-field single. Laramee and the defense would recoup, as the freshman dealt another strikeout for the second out, with a groundout in the following at-bat to put the finishing touches on the win.

After an unpleasant 1-15 start to the season, back-to-back victories by the Anchormen hope to be the start of a second-half turnaround for the squad.

At the time of publishing, RIC will have played Babson College in a single-game contest on April 9 (W, 10-7) and an LEC twinbill at Eastern Connecticut State University on April 11 (L, 6-4, L, 2-1). They’ll have another in-conference road trip to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on April 14, before returning home on Thursday, April 16 against in-state opponent Salve Regina.