May 23, 2007

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DAYTON, Ohio - Senior Scott Brown (Portland, Maine) went 3-for-5 with three put-outs and an assist in right field to help lead the fifth-seeded Rhode Island baseball team to a 4-3 win over fourth-seeded Xavier in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at Fifth Third Field in Dayton, Ohio. The Rams plated all four of their runs in the first inning and never looked back as they held on for their fourth win over the Musketeers this season.

Senior Dave Savard (Nashua, N.H.) got things started with a first-inning lead-off single to left center and advanced to third on Brown's base hit to right center. Senior Gregg Allen (Dighton, Mass.) then knocked an RBI single to third to score Savard and move Brown to second before senior Ryan Cunningham (Centreville, Va.) advanced both runners with a ground out to short.

Junior Zach Zaneski (Waterford, Conn.) went on put Rhody up, 3-0, with a two-run shot up the middle and junior Mike O'Malley (Nashua, N.H.) kept things rolling with a bunt single to third. Classmate Shaun Hagey (Ephrata, Pa.) followed with a double to deep center that scored Zaneski before O'Malley was thrown out at the plate, giving the Rams a 4-0 advantage after their first at bat.

"It was nice to go out there and put up a four-spot right away," said head coach Jim Foster.

Xavier cut the Rhode Island lead in half in the bottom of the third inning on a three-hit two-run effort that saw Andy Zellers pop out to right field to end the inning with bases loaded.

Rhody had an excellent chance to extend its lead in the top of the seventh when sophomore Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.), Savard and Brown loaded the bases before three straight outs sent Xavier to the plate where the Musketeers scored their third and final run of the game.

"The first game is always the most important," Foster added. "It's a long road if you don't win so we're happy we got it."

Junior Brett Palanksi (Nashua, N.H.) picked up his sixth win of the season, scattering eight hits and yielding three runs in 6.2 innings.

"It's always nice to start a game with a lead and I have great confidence in our lineup," said Palanski. "I just tried to keep the ball low and was able to get some groundouts."

Freshman Mark Fraser (Nashua, N.H.) and junior Jamie Degidio (Narragansett, R.I.) combined for two innings of relief while redshirt freshman Tim Boyce (Swansea, Mass.) earned his team-leading sixth save of the season with just one pitch as Xavier designated hitter Sean Farrell flied out to center, ending the game with the tying run on second base and the winning run on first.

"Tim [Boyce] does a nice job against left-handed hitters and he doesn't look like a freshman when he takes the mound," said Foster.  "He's done a nice job all year long for us."

Vying for its second A-10 title in three seasons, Rhode Island (23-28) will now face top-seeded Charlotte (44-10), tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 p.m.

Fans can watch all A-10 tournament games, live via the internet ($4.95 per game), by logging onto the 2007 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship webpage. Live stats are also provided, free of charge, through Gametracker.