Feb. 25, 2007
Box Score
MIAMI, Fla. - Despite a 3-for-4 performance from senior catcher Dan Tucker, who opened the eighth inning with his first homerun of the season, Rhode Island dropped a tough 15-13 decision to Florida International in the final meeting of a four-game series at University Park Stadium in Miami, Fla. For the Rams, the loss marks their third-straight defeat when scoring 10-or-more runs as they fell to FIU, 15-10, on Friday and lost to the Golden Panthers, 12-11, in the ninth inning last night.
Rhody put together a four-run first inning as senior first baseman Ryan Cunningham collected two of his team-high four RBI on a single through the left side before FIU cut the lead in half with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. In his next at bat, Cunningham drilled a lead-off single up the middle in the top of the third and then scored on a Tucker single to left.
Florida International answered with back-to-back doubles by James McOwen and Tyler Townsend to open their half of the inning. The Golden Panthers went on to take a 6-5 lead with four hits and four runs, two of which were unearned.
After a scoreless fourth and fifth, URI took a 7-6 lead in the top of the sixth inning as freshman centerfielder Zoey Angulo sent a one-out single up the middle and then stole second to get himself in scoring position with senior third baseman Shaun Hagey at the plate. Angulo scored on Hagey's single to left and Hagey then advanced a base on junior shortstop Mike O'Malley's ground out to second. Senior right fielder Scott Brown drove Hagey home with an RBI single to right to regain the Rhody lead.
FIU responded with nine runs over the next two innings before Rhody countered with six of its own in the top of the eighth, cutting the Golden Panthers' advantage to two. Tucker got things rolling with a lead-off homerun and Angulo followed with his second single of the game. Freshman Jack Greenberg entered the game as a pinch hitter for Hagey and drew a walk. O'Malley then loaded the bases with a single to left field and Brown was walked, scoring Angulo.
After an FIU pitching change, Cunningham sent a bases-loaded single to left which scored O'Malley and Greenberg. Florida International then committed an error on senior left fielder Gregg Allen's fielder's choice ball, which scored Brown and advanced Allen to second. Larson then grounded out to third and Allen advanced before taking advantage of another FIU error and scoring on the same play.
That was as close as Rhody would get though, as the Golden Panthers were able to keep the Rams off the board in the ninth inning, for the 15-13 win.
Freshman reliever Nick Greenwood was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on four hits in one and a third innings. FIU's Walker Whitley picked up the win for the Golden Panthers.
The Rams are back in action next weekend when they travel to Conway, S.C. for the Microtel Inn and Suites Challenge. Rhody will face Coastal Carolina on Friday, March 2 at 4:00 p.m. On Saturday the 3rd, URI will meet West Virginia at 3:30 p.m. followed by a 10:30 a.m. game against Marist on Sunday the 4th.
