May 9, 2009

Box Score

Freshman Milan Adams (Exeter, R.I.) was the only other Ram to finish with multiple hits on the afternoon as he went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs and two RBI.

Junior starter Nick Greenwood (Southington, Conn.) gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings of work for URI but classmate Dan Rossignol (Nashua, N.H.) was charged with the loss after allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) in 1.2 innings of relief. Mike DiCato picked up the win for UMass while Mitchell Eilenberg came on in the bottom of the ninth to get the one-out save.

The loss drops the Rams to 33-16-1 overall and 18-4 in the Atlantic 10 while UMass moves to 20-24 (12-11).

Junior Rob DeVeney (Marlton, N.J.) and sophomore Jeff Cammans (Jamestown, R.I.) led off the top of the second with back-to-back walks before being driven in on a two-run double by Adams. Junior Zoey Angulo (Miami, Fla.) then reached on an error by UMass second baseman Peter Copa, which allowed Adams to advance to third. Adams then came in to score on a wild pitch.

The Minutemen got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the inning on a solo-shot by right fielder Mike Donato and an RBI-single by catcher Tom Conley.

Rhault, however, sent the first pitch of the third inning way over the centerfield fence to make it a 4-2 game.

The following inning, freshman Mike LeBel (Quincy, Mass) singled through the left side, advanced to second on a balk, stole third and then scored on a throwing error by Conley.

UMass laced together a pair of singles in the bottom of the fifth before sophomore centerfielder Kenny Burns (Shelton, Conn.) pulled Adam Tempesta's laser back into the park, robbing him of what would have been a three-run homer. The play would only delay the inevitable though as Brian Baudinet was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Jim Macdonald, who homered to left to put the Minutemen in front, 6-5.

On the very next pitch, Donato grounded back to the mound, where Greenwood fielded the ball towards his left and tagged Donato out on the play. Donato then charged back at Greenwood, questioning the excessive contact on the tag. Both teams then ran out onto the field but the scrum quickly dissipated with no ejections and Greenwood got the next batter, Mike Gedman, to fly out to right to end the inning.

The Rams evened things up at 6-6 in the top of the seventh as Burns took first after being drilled on a 3-2 pitch. With Palmer at the plate, Burns then stole second and advanced to third when a miscommunication between pitcher Mike DiCato and catcher Tom Conley resulted in a failed pitch-out attempt. Conley jumped up for what he expected to be an outside pitch but DiCato went low and down the middle, allowing Burns to take second safely and move to third as Conley chased the ball to the backstop. Burns then crossed the plate on Palmer's sac-fly to left field.

A pair of RBI-singles by Baudinet and Donato put the Minutemen in front 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh.

Rhody kept things rolling in the top of the eighth though, as DeVeney led off with a singled through the left side and advanced to second when Cammans was hit by a pitch. However, the Rams quickly found themselves with two away and no runners on after a double-pickoff play. DeVeney, who got hung up in a rundown, was tagged out on his way back to second via a 2-4-6-5-4 play. Copa also got Cammans at second, quickly sending what would have been the tying runs back into the dugout.

Kyle Multner then went deep in the bottom of the frame, scoring two to make it 10-6 UMass after eight innings of play.

With their backs against a wall, the Rams kept in interesting in the top of the ninth. Adams led off with a double to right and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Bryan Leigh. With one down, Mastors worked an eight-pitch at bat into a base on balls before Palmer did the same - only on one pitch less.

That loaded the bases for Rhault, who just yesterday lifted the Rams to an 11-7 win over UMass with a 10th-inning grand slam. The Minutemen shifted a few players around, moving left-handed Mike Gedman from first to the mound for the lefty-lefty matchup while Copa slid over to first and Matt Gedman replaced Copa at second.

Rhault sent a bloop single into left field to plate Adams, before Mastors came in to score on a wild pitch. Sophomore Tom Coulombe (Lincoln, R.I.) followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Palmer and got the Rams to within one (10-9).

With two away and the tying run on second, Mitchell Eilenberg came on to relieve Mike Gedman. Eilenberg quickly ended the Rhody comeback, sitting down redshirt freshman pinch hitter Adam Derner (River Dell, N.J.) on a called third strike to pick up the one-out save and lock up the victory for the Minutemen.

The two teams return to Earl Lorden Field for the rubber match, tomorrow at Noon.

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