April 6, 2008

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - Senior Zach Zaneski (Waterford, Conn.) extended his hitting streak to seven games in the Rhode Island baseball team's 7-6 loss to Duquesne, Sunday afternoon at Bill Beck Field. Zaneski batted in three of Rhody's runs and was one of four Rams to finish with two hits on the afternoon.

URI (11-17, 3-6 Atlantic 10) jumped out to an early lead, taking a one-run advantage in the first inning when sophomore Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) doubled to center field before crossing the plate on Zaneski's two-out single to right field.

The Dukes (13-12, 8-1 Atlantic 10) came back and scored two unearned runs in the top of the second and added another run the following inning for the 3-1 lead.

Rhody tied thing up in the bottom of the fourth when Zaneski plated sophomore Zoey Angulo (Miami, Fla.) and Palmer with a double to left center but Duquesne stretched its lead to 7-4 in its next three at-bats

The Rams clawed their way back though, getting within one after junior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) batted in senior Shaun Hagey (Ephrata, Pa.), and freshman Pete Mastors (Narragansett, R.I.) used a two-out single up the middle to plate Rhault and freshman Tom Coulombe (Lincoln, R.I.).

Freshman Gardner Leaver (Montauk, N.Y.) and sophomores Mark Fraser (Nashua, N.H.) and Tim Boyce (Swansea, Mass.) each struck out a batter for a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, sending Rhody to the plate with one last chance to take the game. Freshman Jeff Cammans (North Kingstown, R.I.) led off with a single to right field and moved into scoring position on Rhault's bunt back to the mound before Coulombe worked an 0-2 count into a base on balls. However, that was as close as the Rams would get as Mastors struck out and Palmer popped up to second to end the game in a 7-6 loss.

As a team, Rhode Island scattered 13 hits compared to nine by the Dukes.

Sophomore Nick Greenwood (Southington, Conn.) was charged with the loss, giving up six runs (three earned) with six strikeouts and just one walk in 6.0 innings of work. Duquesne's Matt Passauer while Danny Brown picked up the save.

Rhody returns to action on Tuesday, April 8, when it hosts Boston College at 3:30 p.m.