March 16, 2007

Box Score

BERKELEY, Calif. - Rhode Island senior Ryan Cunningham (Centreville, Va.) went 3-for-4 with a homerun and three RBI, but two 11th-inning errors proved costly as the Rams fell to California, 7-6, on Friday, March 16 at Evans Diamond in Berkeley, Calif. Junior Shaun Hagey (Ephrata, Pa.) and senior Scott Brown (Portland, Maine) also turned in multiple-hit performances for the Rams, with two hits apiece.

Rhody had a chance to get on the board early as Hagey got things started with a first-inning lead-off single down the right field line and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then moved to third on Brown's ground out. Cunningham walked to put men on both corners before senior Gregg Allen (Dighton, Mass.) struck out to end the inning.

The Bears jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the bottom of the inning on five-consecutive hits, including a two-run shot by Ryan Hanlon. Cal scored again in the fourth and the sixth, extending its lead to 6-0 before Rhody even got another hit.

Brown started the seventh inning with a single to right-center and was sent home on Cunningham's two-run homer to right field. Allen followed with a single to second and scored the Rams' third run on an RBI single by sophomore Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.).

It was three up and three down for the Bears before Rhody picked up another run in the top of the eighth when senior Dave Savard (Nashua, N.H.) scored on a two-out double by Cunningham to make the score 6-4. URI was able to keep Cal off the board in the bottom of the inning and then tied things up with a two-run shot by senior Eric Larson (Bradenton, Fla.) in the top of the ninth.

After a scoreless tenth, junior Zach Zaneski (Waterford, Conn.), Rhault and Larson recorded back-to-back-to-back outs, sending the Bears to the plate with a chance to put the game away. The Rams, who had recorded 10 perfect defensive innings, registered consecutive infield errors before loading the bases with an intentional walk. Cal's Josh Satin then ended the game with a walk-off single through the left side, improving the Bears' record to 11-11 and dropping URI to 1-10.

Junior closer Jamie Degidio (Narragansett, R.I.) was charged with the loss after allowing one hit and one run in two innings on the mound while Matt Gorgen picked up the win for Cal.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon, March 17, at 4:00 p.m. (ET).