RIC athletics recap: gymnastics closes out winter sports, spring sports bloom into action

Tim Yean

Sports Editor

Sunday, March 15

Graphic by Anchor Staff

Men’s tennis @ University of Hartford – W, 7-0

The men’s tennis team opened up the spring season with a dominant sweep over the Hawks. After a brief opening loss at second doubles, the first (second-year Travis Chartier and Kyle Neuendorf) and third (fourth-year Sairaj Srinivasan and first-year John Vaughan) doubles team each provided 6-3 wins in their matchups to clinch for RIC. Vaughan collected his first collegiate win at fourth singles with 6-2 wins in both sets.

Tuesday, March 17

Women’s lacrosse @ Clark University – L, 13-4

Another close start in the first quarter unfurled into a huge win for Clark, scoring five straight goals in the second quarter and taking in a 7-2 lead at the half. Third-year midfielder Lily Nees had another three-goal game and picked up six ground balls. Second-year goalkeeper Abaigeal Estano started and was given the loss. Third-year goalkeeper Giana Franco entered in the second half and stopped 10 shots.

Friday, March 20

Women’s gymnastics @ National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship (Cortland, NY) – did not score as a team

Three Anchorwomen gymnasts made the trip to Cortland, NY as individual competitors. Second-year Aaliyah Krause and third-year Payton Greene notched All-American Honors in the all-around with fourth and sixth-place finishes, respectively. Fourth-year Abbey Bunch qualified as a bars specialist, tying for 42nd in the category with a score of 9.000.

Saturday, March 21

Track and field @ Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational (Myrtle Beach, SC) –15th of 31 teams (women), 25th of 31 teams (men)

Men: Second-year Owen Schenck finished as the top runner in the 800m open (1:57.97). Fourth-year Brandon Mota was the top thrower for RIC in hammer (seventh, 52.23m). First-year Tyler Boudreau spotted a 13th-place in the 3,000m steeplechase with a personal-best time of 10:16.68. Second-year Jack McEntee and first-year Marcos Ruiz Uben had new personal-best times in the 400m in sixth and eighth-place finishes. 

Women: Fourth-year Haley Oliver broke the program record in the 5,000m with a time of 17:25.89, good for first in the event. The 4x400m relay (second-year Bendu Kamara and Quiana Pezza, first-year Naibel Noriega and Aaliyah Barbour) landed fifth in the event with a time of 4:01.81. Noriega and Kamara also set new personal-best times in the 200m.

Softball @ Roger Williams University

Game one: L, 2-1

The defensive in-state opener didn’t see a run scored until the bottom of the sixth inning, where the Hawks did just enough to snatch the contest. Third-year left fielder Melanie Earley scored the lone run for RIC, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple. Fourth-year pitcher Gabby Cunha was given the loss

Game two: L, 5-2

Roger Williams secured the sweep over the in-state visitors with three runs at the bottom of the first inning and added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Second-year first baseman Jill Guilfoyle went 3-for-3 all going for singles. Third-year pitcher Ashleigh von der Linden was dealt the loss.

Baseball vs Keene State College

Game one: L, 8-6

The Owls spoiled the first game back home for the Anchormen with a pair of runs at the top of the ninth inning to clinch game one. Fourth-year right fielder CJ Almagno had his first career run on a three-run bomb to tie the game in the fourth inning. Third-year relief pitcher Jason Potvin took the loss in the home opener. 

Game two: L, 17-1 (seven innings)

Keene State slammed on the gas in the second half of the twinbill, putting runs on the board in all but two innings. Fourth-year first baseman Daniel Cascio had the lone run for RIC with a blast to right-center field. Third-year starting pitcher Jake Foster was given the loss.