March 28, 2007

Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Rhode Island sophomore Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored as the Rams were defeated, 7-4, at Marist on Wednesday afternoon. Senior Ryan Cunningham (Centreville, Va.) also registered two hits for the Rams.

Freshman starter Nick Greenwood (Southington, Conn.) struck out five batters and gave up three runs on six hits in five-and-a-third innings while freshman closer Mark Fraser (Nashua, N.H.) was charged with the loss after giving up three hits and three runs with two strikeouts in two-and-a-third innings of work.

After three scoreless innings, Rhody took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Cunningham scored on senior Gregg Allen's (Dighton, Mass.) fielder's choice. The lead was short lived though, as the Red Foxes tied things up in the bottom of the inning.

URI went up again in the top of the fifth. Rhault sent a one-out single to left field before advancing to second, and then third, on wild pitches by Marist reliever Mike Pulicki. The Rhody shortstop then scored on junior Shaun Hagey's (Ephrata, Pa.) ground out to second.

The Red Foxes evened the score in the bottom of the inning and went on to score two more in the sixth for a 4-2 lead.

The Rams responded with a two-run seventh as freshman Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) scored after crushing a lead-off double down the left field line and Rhault reached home after singling to third.

However, Marist (3-15) sealed the win with two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth for the 7-4 victory.

For Rhode Island, the loss marked the second time this season that the Rams have fallen to the Red Foxes as Marist posted a 12-9 win over on Rhody on March 4 at the Microtel Inn & Suites Challenge in Conway, S.C.

URI (2-16, 0-3 Atlantic 10) will return to action this weekend with a three-game series at Duquesne, Friday-Sunday, March 30-April 1.