Baseball
Boyce, Palmer Lead Rams Past First-Place Dayton, 10-1
April 4, 2009
KINGSTON, R.I. - Junior Tim Boyce (Swansea, Mass.) threw a complete game four-hitter as the Rhode Island baseball team cruised to a 10-1 victory over Dayton in the first-ever game at newly-renovated Bill Beck Field. Boyce - who picked up his third win of the season - recorded seven strikeouts on the afternoon - while junior Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, three RBI and two runs scored.
Freshman Milan Adams (Exeter, R.I.) finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs while Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) picked up four RBI on his third career grand slam.
Dayton had entered the game tied for first place in the Atlantic 10 with a perfect 6-0 league record (16-10 overall).
Rhody (15-10-1, 5-2 A-10) took a one-run lead in the bottom of the second when junior Rob DeVeney (Marlton, N.J.) doubled to left with one out and advanced to third on a single up the middle by sophomore Jeff Cammans (Jamestown, R.I.). Freshman Mike LeBel (Quincy, Mass.) followed with a sac-fly to left that plated DeVeney and gave the Rams a 1-0 advantage.
The Rams made it a 5-0 game in their next at bat as Adams sent a one-out single to right and advanced to second on a walk by sophomore Pete Mastors (Narragansett, R.I.). Palmer then singled to center, loading the bases for Rhault - who blasted a shot over the right-center fence.
After Boyce struck out the side in the top of the fifth, Adams led off with a double to right center and advanced to third on a sac-bunt by Mastors. Palmer then singled to left to plate Adams and put Rhody ahead 6-0.
Boyce had retired 11-consecutive batters from the third to the seventh inning before Dayton's Jonathan Castine sent a one-out single to right center. Castine eventually came around to score on Max Navalinski's single down the left field line. The Flyers tried to get two on the play, but Mastors quickly got the ball in to LeBel, who chased UD's Marshall MacDonald down the third base line and placed the tag before MacDonald reached the plate.
Rhode Island came back and scored two more in the bottom of the seventh as Adams crossed the plate on Palmer's first double of the day. Palmer would then advance to third on a sac-fly by Rhault before sophomore Tom Coulombe (Lincoln, R.I.) was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Coulombe then stole second and Palmer scored on the play when Dayton catcher Scott Dunwoody's throw down to second sailed out into centerfield.
After three UD ground-outs in the top of the eighth, Mastors and Palmer strung together back-to-back RBI doubles to for the Rams, capping off the 10-1 win.
Reigning A-10 Rookie of the Week Mike Hauschild was charged with the loss, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits over six and a third innings of work.
The two teams return to Bill Beck Field for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader set to begin at 11 a.m.
