April 11, 2008

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - For the second time in as many days, sophomore Rob Deveney (Marlton, N.J.) slugged a ninth-inning RBI double, this time helping lead the Rams to a 7-6 victory over Saint Louis in the second game of a doubleheader, Friday at Bill Beck Field. Deveney was one of five Rams to finish with multiple hits in Game Two.

URI and SLU each plated a run in the third inning, as well as the fourth, before the Billikens went up, 3-2, in the top of the fifth.

Rhody came back in the bottom of the frame, as senior Shaun Hagey (Ephrata, Pa.) led off with a double to left and classmate Zach Zaneski (Waterford, Conn.) reached on an infield single, putting runners on the corners for junior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.). Rhault dropped a bunt down the third base line, which got Hagey hung up in a run down on his way home, but the ball popped out of Saint Louis third baseman Tom Pinnell's glove on the tag attempt, allowing Hagey to cross the plate safely. Zaneski advanced to third and Rhault took second on the play.

Saint Louis head coach Darin Hendrickson was then ejected after coming out of the dugout to dispute the call, arguing that Hagey ran out of the base path.

Back-to-back singles to right by senior Mike O'Malley (Nashua, N.H.) and Deveney scored Zaneski and Rhault to give Rhody the 5-3 advantage.

The Billikens came back and cut it to one (5-4) in the top of the sixth but Deveney used a base hit to left to plate Zaneski for the 6-4 lead after seven innings of play.

Saint Louis' J.D. Dunn went on to close the gap with a solo shot in the top of the eighth before junior reliever Luke Demko (Gilford, N.H.) got Pinnell with a called third strike to end the inning. Displeased with the call, Pinnell threw his bat and helmet back at the dugout, and consequently was ejected from the game.

Ryan Johnson tied things up for the Billikens with an RBI double in the top of the ninth that knotted the score at 6-6.

Rhault then took the plate with one out in the bottom of the ninth and sent a base hit up the middle before advancing to second on O'Malley's bloop hit between shortstop and the mound. Deveney went on to crush a double that scored Rhault and gave the Rams the 7-6 victory.

Sophomore Tim Boyce (Swansea, Mass.) earned the win for URI, striking out four batters in the final two innings. Demko pitched 1.2 scoreless innings of relief with no hits and four K's after sophomore starter Eric Smith (Milford, Conn.) lasted 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts and five hits. Saint Louis' Ziggy Moore was charged with the loss.

The Rams (14-19, 5-6 Atlantic 10) and Billikens (14-17, 4-7 Atlantic 10) return to Bill Beck Field on Sunday afternoon to close out the three-game series at Noon.