April 18, 2005

KINGSTON, R.I. - University of Rhode Island sophomore left-handed pitcher Adam Perkins (Hudson, N.H.) was named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball and was selected as the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week after throwing a nine-inning no-hitter in the Rams' 14-0 win over Iona on April 12.

This is the second-straight year the Rams have garnered a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week. Zack Zuercher (Warwick, R.I.) received the award after throwing a nine-inning no-hitter against St. Bonaventure on April 24, 2004.

Perkins struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked two as he improved to 5-1 on the season and dropped his ERA to 2.95, lowest among Rhody starters. He was also named to the College Baseball Foundation's Weekly Honor Roll for his performance.

Perkins faced three batters over the minimum, retiring the first nine batters in order before the lead-off hitter in the fourth inning reached on an error. Perkins sat the next three hitters down in order, but walked the first hitter in the fifth. He then retired 13-straight, before walking a batter with one out in the ninth inning. Perkins got the next batter to fly out to right field and the struck out the final batter of the game swinging.

The University of Rhode Island baseball team had an 18-year stretch without pitching a no-hitter, but the current Rams' staff has now pitched three no-hitters in the last four seasons. All three of the no-hitters in the last four years have been thrown by left-handers. Current senior Mike Harris (Old Bethpage, N.Y.) no-hit Sacred Heart on March 28, 2002 in Fairfield, Conn. and current junior Zuercher pitched a no-no against St. Bonaventure on April 24, 2004 in Olean, N.Y.

Rhode Island went 4-1 on the week and has now won seven of the last eight games. The Rams are 15-15 overall and 9-3 in the Atlantic 10, sitting in first place in the league's East Division.

Perkins will take the mound when the Rams return to action on Thursday for a doubleheader at Central Connecticut State, beginning at 1:00 p.m.