GORHAM, Maine -- The Castleton University baseball team dropped its opening-round game of the Little East Conference (LEC) tournament Thursday afternoon, falling 8-3 to Rhode Island College at Ed Flaherty Field, on the campus of the University of Southern Maine.
 
Serving as the away team, the sixth-seeded Spartans jumped ahead early, gaining a lead over the Anchormen in the top half of the first inning. After Armando Cardenas reached base on a fielding error and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Reece de Castro, Evan Keegan lined an RBI single up the middle, scoring Cardenas from second base, to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
 
The lead did not last as the Anchormen tied the game in the bottom half of the third inning. With one out recorded, Zincone lined a single to right field and later advanced to second on a wild pitch from starting pitcher Matthew Deen. Cam Parrillo ensued with an RBI double, tying the game at one. The Anchormen took the lead the very next inning, gaining a 2-1 advantage as David Iannuccilli came across to score on another wild pitch from Deen.
 
Deen finished the afternoon, recording one of his best outings of the season. Deen pitched four strong innings, allowing just two runs on four hits, and tallied three strikeouts, earning a no-decision.
 
The Spartans fought back and regained the lead in the top half of the sixth inning, scoring two runs to surge ahead 3-2. Ryan Lawrence led off the inning with a single to left field, and de Castro followed suit and added a single of his own. With two on and one out. Keegan came through again and punched an RBI double to right field, scoring Lawrence to tie the game at two. Adam Newton reached base during the next at-bat as a throwing error from Nate Vigeant at second base plated another run for the Spartans.
 
Six unanswered runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning opened the game up as the Anchormen gained an 8-3 advantage. The Spartans surrendered the lead as the team recorded three errors, a hit by pitch, while the Anchormen only tallied three hits.
 
With the loss today, Castleton eyes to stay alive in the Little East Conference tournament as the Spartans travel back to Gorham, Maine to take on either Southern Maine or Rhode Island College on Saturday, May 15.