May 14, 2005

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Rhode Island baseball team scored a run in the first inning, but that's all the Rams could muster off Massachusetts ace Matt Tora in a 3-1 loss In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

The Atlantic 10 East Division champion Rams (29-17, 17-5) can clinch the conference regular-season title for the second-straight year with a victory in the second game whcih starts at about 2:15 p.m.

Rhode Island scored a run in the first inning when junior Daryl Holcomb (Wilmington, Del.) led off with a double down the right field line, advanced to third on a deep fly ball to center by senior Matt Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.) and scored on a double to left center by Scott Brown (Portland, Maine).

That would be the only run the Rams would score against Tora, who allowed just three hits and the one run in seven innings of work. Tora struck out nine and walked just one.

After the first inning, Rhody had only three baserunners the rest of the way, but couldn't get anyone to second base. The only hit Rhode Island got after the first inning was a lead-off single by senior Joe Viscuso (Farmingdale, N.Y.) in the third..

Senior Dan Frederick (Dracut, Mass.) was the hard-luck loser for the second-straight week as he continues to look for his 22nd career win, which would tie the school record. He allowed five hits and three runs, two of them earned in six innings of work. Frederick walked just one and struck out four. Last week Frederick was a bunt single away from being perfect through seven innings against Fordham, but the game went into extra innings scoreless. Frederick allowed one more hit and the game's only run in the ninth inning in taking the loss.

Rhode Island held a 1-0 lead Saturday until the third inning, when UMass scored a run to tie the game. Andy Tuetken reached on a catcher's interference and advanced to third on a single by Anthony Santos. Ryan Franczek grounded out to shortstop to plate Tuetken with the unearned run.

The score remained tied at 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning, when UMass scored the game-winning run and added an insurance run. With one out Chris Szado singled and Bryan Adamski lined a double down the left field line into foul territory that allowed Szado to score from first for what proved to be the game-winning run. Michael Weiner slapped a single to right field to score Adamski for a 3-1 lead.