Baseball
Rams Open A-10 Tourney with 7-1 Win over Temple
May 21, 2008
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CAMDEN, N.J. - Senior Brett Palanski (Nashua, N.H.) struck out four batters and allowed just one run in eight innings to help lead the Rhode Island baseball team to a 7-1 victory over Temple in the opening game of the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship at Campbell's Field in Camden N.J. Freshman Kenny Burns (Shelton, Conn.) was 2-for-4 with three RBI in the win.
The fourth-seeded Owls (26-28) scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Sean Barksdale led off with a triple to centerfield and then scored on a single down the left field line by Stan Orzechowski.
"I tried to get ahead of hitters, get my breaking stuff over, get ground balls and let the defense do the work," said Palanski, who lowered his earned run average to 4.41 on the year. "As the game went on, I got into a better pace and got more comfortable throwing my breaking stuff for strikes and getting ahead of batters."
Rhody (30-25-1) came back and plated three in the top of the second as senior Zach Zaneski (Waterford, Conn.) was hit by a pitch before advancing to third on a fielding error that put junior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) on first safely. Rhault then stole second and freshman Tom Coulombe (Lincoln, R.I.) was walked to set up Burns' three-run double down the right field line.
Senior Mike O'Malley (Nashua, N.H.) kept things rolling in the top of the fourth with a lead-off double to left center. O'Malley then advanced to third on Coulombe's single to left before crossing the plate on an RBI single by sophomore Rob Deveney (Marlton, N.J.). Coulombe went on to score on a wild pitch to put the Rams up 5-1.
Temple recorded just three hits in its next four at bats while URI tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Junior reliever Luke Demko (Gilford, N.H.) then took the mound and tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to lock up the victory for the Rams.
"It's good to get the first one out off the way and get a good pitching performance from Brett," said Rhode Island head coach Jim Foster. "It's a lot of baseball over the next few days and you need everyone you got so Brett going out there and giving us a performance like that shows why he's our No. 1."
With the first-round win, Rhode Island now advances to face top-seeded Xavier, tomorrow at Noon.
Fan Information
All Atlantic 10 Championship games will be played at Campbell's Field in Camden, N.J. - home of the Camden Riversharks. Single day passes are $7 for adults, $3 for Atlantic 10 students, children under 18 and senior citizens and $2 for groups of eight or more. Four-day passes are $20 and $10 for Atlantic 10 students, children under 18 and senior citizens. Live video streaming will be available for a daily charge of $4.95. Live stats will be available, free of charge, thru Gametracker.
For additional ticket info, please visit www.riversharks.com.
For complete coverage of the 2008 Baseball Championship, click here.
