May. 2, 2005

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Sophomore Scott Brown (Portland, Maine) had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 16 games, just two short of the school record, as the University of Rhode Island baseball team defeated Saint Joseph's 8-4 Monday to sweep the three-game Atlantic 10 series.

The win clinched Rhode Island's third-straight Atlantic 10 Tournament berth. The Rams have won 10-straight games and 16 of the last 17 to improve to 24-15 overall and 15-3 in the Atlantic 10. Rhode Island has won 13-straight Atlantic 10 series heading into this weekend's showdown with Fordham (29-15, 13-5), which sits two games in back of the Rams. Rhode Island would clinch it's third-straight Atlantic 10 East Division title by taking two of three from Fordham.

Rhode Island has a 51-15 record in Atlantic 10 play over the last three seasons, including winning 35 of their last 42 conference games.

The Rams trailed 3-2 after five innings, but tied the game in the top of the sixth and then scored four runs in the top of the seventh.

Brown went 3-for-5 with a RBI and run scored to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. He is two games shy of teammate Ryan Cunningham's school-record 18-game hitting streak, set in April. Cunningham passed senior Matt Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.), who had a 17-game hitting streak earlier this year.

Junior Josh Nestor (Nashua, N.H.) went 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season. Nestor went 6-for-12 in the three-game series to raise his average to .305, giving Rhode Island nine players hitting over .300.

"Josh Nestor continued his hot hitting all weekend," Rhode Island head coach Frank Leoni said. "It's very encouraging to see him coming around. If we can get his bat going like this, it's going to make us that much more difficult to beat."

Rhode Island sophomore Steve Holmes (Lincoln, R.I.) earned the win to improve to 4-1 on the season and 9-2 on his career. He went seven innings, allowing eight hits and four runs, while striking out seven. Holmes got into a jam in the fifth inning, allowing two runs to score and Saint Joseph's had the bases loaded with one out, but Holmes struck out the next batter and then got an inning-ending groundout.

"Steve Holmes did an excellent job today, especially in that fifth inning," Leoni said. "They had us on the ropes, but he got us through it, and gave us enough time to do our thing offensively."

Junior Tom Venedam (Suffern, N.Y.) pitched two innings of scoreless relief to earn the save, allowing one hit and striking out one. Venedam hasn't allowed a run in his last six appearances covering 10 innings. In those 10 innings he has allowed only four hits and two walks.

Senior Mike Rainville (Pawtucket, R.I.) went 2-for-2 with a RBI and two runs scored and senior Joe Viscuso (Farmingdale, N.Y.) had two hits and two RBIs. Senior Matt Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.) also had two hits for the Rams.

Rhode Island returns to action on Tuesday when the Rams host Holy Cross at 3:30 p.m.