March 27, 2011

Eighth Inning Rally Leads Rhody Past Charlotte, 9-7

March 27, 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Rhode Island baseball team plated six runs in the top of the eighth inning to erase a three-run deficit and down Charlotte, 9-7, on Sunday afternoon at Hayes Stadium.

The win improves Rhody's record to 10-10 (1-2) on the season and 4-11 in the all-time series against Charlotte. Nine of the 15 games between the Rams and Niners have now been decided by either one or two runs. Only twice has the margin of victory exceeded four runs.

Redshirt junior Jeff Cammans went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while classmate Dan Haverstick drove in two on a two-out single in the eighth.

Freshman Jeff Roy and senior Kyle Borden also had a pair of hits on the afternoon while junior Mike LeBel scored twice and recorded his team-leading third triple of the season. He is now tied for second all-time at Rhode Island with 10 career triples.

Rhody got on the board first, as Roy and Cammans both crossed the plate in the top of the first to put the Rams on top 2-0.

Charlotte (19-6, 2-1) quickly responded though, evening the score at two apiece in the bottom of the second. The Niners then tacked on another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead after five complete innings.

It wasn't until the eighth when URI made its comeback, scoring six runs on four hits with three Charlotte errors to move back in front, 8-5.

The 49ers used a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to close the gap to 8-7 but a ninth-inning RBI single by Kenny Burns scored LeBel for an insurance run and the 9-7 victory.

Junior reliever Anthony Pisani picked up the win - his first of the season - while senior Dan Johnson tossed the final 1.1 innings to earn the save. Charlotte's John Hamilton was charged with the loss.

The Rams return to action for their home opener vs. Central Connecticut, Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.