March 7, 2008

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Senior Brett Palanski (Nashua, N.H.) threw seven scoreless innings while giving up just two hits and one walk as the Rhode Island baseball took care of Central Connecticut State, 8-0, Saturday morning at Max Bishop stadium in Annapolis, Md. Offensively, the Rams were led by senior Zach Zaneski (Waterford, Conn.) and sophomore Rob Deveney (Marlton, N.J.), who both went 2-for-4 at the plate.

In the top of the fourth inning, sophomore Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) got things started for the Rams when he reached first and advanced to second on a throwing error by CCSU shortstop Sean Miller-Jones. Sophomore John Rusin (East Amherst, N.Y.) used a sacrifice bunt to move Palmer to third before freshman Tom Coulombe (Lincoln, R.I.) picked up an RBI when he plated Palmer, and gave Rhody a 1-0 lead, on a sac-fly to right.

Palanski continued to dominate on the mound, facing just 11 batters over the next three innings and keeping the Blue Devils off the score board.

Coulombe cracked a lead-off single to center in the top of the seventh and advanced to second on freshman Casey Ide's (Alexandria, Va.) sacrifice bunt. Classmate Kenny Burns (Shelton, Conn.) followed with an RBI single through the right side and put the Rams on top, 3-0, on sophomore Zoey Angulo's (Miami, Fla.) triple to right field. Senior Mike O'Malley (Nashua, N.H.) was then walked to put runners on the corners for Zaneski, who used a single to right to move O'Malley to third and send Angulo home for the 4-0 advantage.

After a CCSU pitching change, Deveney popped up to second before Palmer and senior Shaun Hagey (Ephrata, Pa.) crushed back-to-back outfield singles to score O'Malley and Zaneski. Hagey then crossed the plate on a wild pitch, as did Palmer, before Coulombe flied out to right to end the seven-run inning for the Rams.

Palanski threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh and sophomore Dan Rossignol (Nashua, N.H.) closed out the game with two scoreless innings for the Rams, who recorded their first shutout victory of the season.

Rhody returns to action tomorrow afternoon when it faces host Navy (3-4) at 2 p.m.