March 31, 2007

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

Pittsburgh, Pa. - Junior Shaun Hagey had a two-run, go-ahead double in the seventh inning of the first game and was 2-for-3 with three RBI in game two to help extend the Rhode Island baseball team's winning streak to three games. Eric Larson hit his fifth homerun in game two to lead the Rams. Junior Brett Palanski and senior James Norcott earned the wins for Rhody, while freshman Tim Boyce recorded his second save of the season in game one.

Game One
Senior first basemen Ryan Cunningham plated the first run of the game for the Rams with a sixth-inning RBI double that scored senior Gregg Allen. Trailing 1-0, the Dukes' Aaron Janusey hit a run-scoring double in the bottom half of the sixth, tying the game at one.

Hagey drove in two runs with a single to left field in the top of the seventh inning to put the Rams ahead for good. Freshman Oliver Palmer and sophomore Dan Rhault scored for Rhody. Duquesne added their final run in the eighth off another Janusey run-scoring double to make it 3-2.

Junior Brett Polanski (1-5) earned his first victory of the season, throwing 7.2 innings and allowing just two runs on three hits, while striking out two for the Rams. Freshman Tim Boyce recorded the save, throwing 1.1 innings and striking out three. Duquesne starter Ryan Juran (0-1) picked up the loss, pitching two innings and allowing one run on one hit.

Game Two
Rhody got out to an early 2-0 lead on a first-inning double by Cunningham, driving in Allen. Senior right-fielder Scott Brown followed with a RBI single to centerfield, plating Cunningham. The Rams continued their attack in the second inning, adding two runs on a Hagey single that scored Palmer and junior Zach Zaneski.

Hagey reached base again in the fifth on a single and crossed the plate on an RBI ground-out from Cunningham. Hagey attacked again in the sixth inning, hitting a sacrifice fly to left field and scoring Larson. The Rams added one more in the inning, when Palmer crossed the plate after an infield error by Duquesne shortstop Bill Torre, increasing their lead to 7-0.

Larson hit his fourth homerun of the season in the seventh inning and Rhody scored its final run of the game in the eighth, off an Allen single to center, plating Hagey.

Senior pitcher James Norcott (1-3) earned the win, throwing eight shutout innings, allowing just five hits, while striking out three. The Dukes' Alex Sharick (1-3) suffered the loss, pitching six innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits.

URI (5-16, 3-3 Atlantic 10) returns to action when it hosts Central Connecticut State University at Bill Beck Field this Wednesday, April 3 at 3:30 p.m.