March 8, 2008

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Sophomore Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) went 3-for-4 and three other Rams turned in multiple-hit performances as the Rhode Island baseball team fell to Navy, 6-4, Saturday afternoon at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis, Md. The loss ended the Rams' four-game win streak and dropped the team's record to 4-5 overall.

Rhody took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when sophomore Rob Deveney (Marlton, N.J.) hit an RBI single to right that scored senior Mike O'Malley (Nashua, N.H.). The following inning, sophomore Palmer cracked a one-out single before crossing the plate on junior Dan Rhault's (Lincoln, R.I.) double to left cetner. Rhault then increased the Rams' lead to three on a single through the right side by freshman Kenny Burns (Shelton, Conn.).

Steven Soares made the score 3-1 with a two-out homerun in the bottom of the second, but URI came back and got another run in the top of the third when Deveney and senior Shaun Hagey (Ephrata, Pa.) drew back-to-back walks to set up Palmer's RBI single up the middle.

The Midshipmen got a run back in the bottom of the fourth and another the following inning to make the score 4-3 before a three-run sixth inning lifted them to the 6-4 victory.

Sophomore starter Eric Smith (Milford, Conn.) pitched 4.1 innings for the Rams, giving up seven hits and three runs with four strikeouts. Senior Jamie Degidio (Narragansett, R.I.) was charged with the loss after giving up Navy's final two runs in the sixth inning.

The Rams return to action tomorrow morning when they face Iona at 11 a.m.