March 25, 2007

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. - Rhode Island junior Shaun Hagey (Ephrata, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with a triple and two stolen bases as the URI baseball team fell to Richmond, 3-2, in the final meeting of a three-game series at Pitt Field in Richmond, Va. The Rams, who entered the contest averaging 1.07 stolen bases and 11.07 hits per game, turned in a season-high seven steals and a season-low five hits against the Spiders.

Rhody (2-14, 0-3 Atlantic 10) opened the scoring in the bottom of the third when senior Dave Savard (Nashua, N.H.) singled down the right field line, stole second, advanced to third on Hagey's ground out to first base and then gave URI the 1-0 lead on classmate Ryan Cunningham's (Centreville, Va.) sacrifice fly to right.

The Rams added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Scott Brown (Portland, Maine) drew a lead-off walk, stole second and took third on the bad throw by Richmond catcher Evan Stehle. The Rhody right fielder then scored when junior Zach Zaneski (Waterford, Conn.) sent a sac-fly to centerfield.

URI held onto the two-run lead until Richmond (13-10, 3-0 Atlantic 10) turned in a four-hit sixth inning resulting in the Spiders' only three runs of the game. The effort proved to be enough though as Rhody was unable to capitalize on its only other hit of the game, an eighth-inning double by Cunningham, giving Richmond the series sweep.

Junior Brett Palanski (Nashua, N.H.) was charged with the loss after giving up 6 hits and 3 runs in six-and-a-third innings on the hill. Richmond's Alex Hale picked up the win for the Spiders while Brian Alas was credited with the save.

The Rams return to action on Tuesday, March 27, when they travel to Boston, Mass. for a 3:00 p.m. meeting with Northeastern.