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URI Takes Down Top-Seeded Xavier in Second Round of A-10 Tourney

Greenwood earns the win, Boyce gets the save.

May 22, 2008

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CAMDEN, N.J. - Sophomore Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) went 4-for-5 with three RBI as the Rhode Island baseball team upset top-seeded Xavier, 11-4, in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

The Rams - who advance to face the winner of the No. 2 Charlotte vs. No. 3 Duquesne game, tomorrow at noon - recorded 17 hits in the victory while six individuals finished with multiple hits on the afternoon.

"I've been struggling a little - the past few weeks - and I just tried to keep my hands back and make contact and I'm glad I was able to get things going and drive in some runs," said Palmer, who ranks second on the team in hits with 64. "We just want to keep things going tomorrow no matter who we play and keep advancing in the tournament."

Sophomore Tim Boyce (Swansea, Mass.) earned the save on the mound, relieving senior Jamie Degidio (Narragansett, R.I.) in the eighth inning and working his way out of a bases-loaded jam with the tying run on first and no outs.

"Timmy is our closer for a reason and we have a lot of confidence in him," said head coach Jim Foster. "He did an unbelievable job. Xavier is an outstanding club and I'm real happy to advance and keep on the same routine for tomorrow versus either Charlotte or Duquesne."

Sophomore Nick Greenwood (Southington, Conn.) took the win, improving to 6-6 on the season, while Xavier's Charlie Leesman what charged with the loss.

The Rams took an early lead, using a two-out rally to plate a pair of runs in the first inning. Senior Zach Zaneski (Waterford, Conn.) got things started with a single to left and stole second before classmate Mike O'Malley (Nashua, N.H.) reached on a walk. Junior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) then singled to right to score Zaneski and sophomore Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) followed with an RBI single that plated O'Malley.

Xavier came back and evened the score in the bottom of the inning on a two-run double by shortstop Jordan Conley but Rhody regained the lead with a four-run second inning. Sophomore Rob Deveney (Marlton, N.J.) led off with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a base hit by freshman Jeff Cammans (Jamestown, R.I.). Freshman Kenny Burns (Shelton, Conn.) and sophomore Zoey Angulo (Miami, Fla.) then drew back-to-back walks, sending Deveney across the plate for the 3-2 lead.

O'Malley kept the momentum going, sending a 1-0 pitch into left and scoring Cammans before Rhault followed with a sac-fly that plated Burns. Palmer then singled to score Angulo, but was thrown out at second to end the inning.

Robbie Kelley homered for the Musketeers in the bottom of the frame, making the score 6-3, before Conley crossed the plate to get Xavier within two (6-4) in the bottom of the fourth.

Rhault opened the fifth with a lead-off triple to deep center field and put the Rams back up by three on Palmer's RBI single to left.

Degidio then relieved Greenwood after six-and-a-third innings and ended the frame with back-to-back strikeouts.

A lead-off base hit and consecutive Rhode Island errors put the tying run on for Xavier in the bottom of the eighth with no outs, but Boyce came in and rung up pinch hitter Sean Farrell before John McCambridge grounded into bases-loaded 5-2 double play to end the inning.

Ninth-inning doubles by Palmer, Deveney and freshman Pete Mastors (Narragansett, R.I.) contributed to a four-run final inning for the Rams, sealing the 11-4 win.

Zaneski finished with three hits, a run and an RBI while O'Malley, Rhault, Deveney and freshman Evan Laude (Long Beach, N.Y.) recorded a pair of hits each.

With the second-round victory, Rhode Island advances to face the winner of this afternoon's game between Charlotte and Duquesne, 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.