Baseball
First-Place Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Fordham
April 27, 2003
KINGSTON, R.I. - The University of Rhode Island baseball team split an Atlantic 10 Conference doubleheader with Fordham on Sunday afternoon at Bill Beck Field. Rhode Island took the first game 9-3 before dropping the nightcap 5-1.
With the split, and a Temple doubleheader sweep over Massachusetts on Sunday, the Rams regain control of first place in the Atlantic 10 East Division with a 10-7 record (18-23 overall). Temple and UMass sit in second place in the East Division with 8-6 conference records.
Rhode Island jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning of the first game and junior Reid Willett (Nashua, N.H.) pitched a complete-game as the URI won 9-3. Willett went the full seven innings, allowing six hits and three runs, only two of them earned. He walked one batter and struck out nine as he improved to 4-4 on the season.
Senior Justin Lamboy (Warwick, R.I./Warwick Vets) went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two run scored and freshman Tom Venedam (Suffern, N.Y.) went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Junior Dan Batz (Mohnton, Pa.) hit a two-run home run.
A five-run third inning was all Fordham needed to win the second game 5-1 and salvage a split of the doubleheader. Rhode Island managed only four hits off Fordham starter John Baco, who earned the win with a complete-game four-hitter. He struck out five, didn't walk a batter and yielded just a solo run in the sixth inning.
Freshman Wayne Russo (Warwick, R.I./Toll Gate) had a hit and drove in Rhode Island's only run of the game. Lamboy, sophomore Mike Rainville (Pawtucket, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) and sophomore Matt Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.) each had a hit.
Sophomore Dan Frederick (Dracut, Mass.) took the loss for Rhode Island, allowing eight hits and four earned runs in six innings. Sophomore Mark Kasabuski (Ashaway, R.I./Chariho) pitched an inning of scoreless relief, retiring all three batters he faced, including one on a strikeout.
Batz was presented Rhode Island's Rick Ligi MVP Award prior to the doubleheader, while Lamboy and pitcher Chris Fisher (Parsippany, N.J.) were honored with a senior day ceremony at the conclusion of the doubleheader.
Rhode Island and Fordham (13-21, 5-11 Atlantic 10) play the rubber game of the series on Monday at 11 a.m. at Bill Beck Field.
Game 1 - Rhode Island 9, Fordham 3 Fordham 000 210 0-3 6 5 Rhode Island 050 040 0-9 8 3 W-Willett (4-4) L-Kelly (1-4)Game 2 - Fordham 5, Rhode Island 1 Fordham 005 000 0-5 8 0 Rhode Island 000 001 0-1 4 3 W-Baco (2-5) L-Frederick (5-3)
