Feb. 20, 2009

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. - Senior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) and junior Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) both went 4-for-5 as the Rhode Island baseball team downed NC State, 11-8, in the season opener for both teams, Friday afternoon at the Summit Hospitality Invitational. Rhody out-slugged NC State, recording 15 hits compared to nine by the home team.

Rhault homered twice in the win and finished with five RBI while sophomore Kenny Burns (Shelton, Conn.) added three. Palmer, who crossed the plate three times, also batted in a pair of runs for the Rams.

Senior closer Luke Demko (Gilford, N.H.) earned the win on the mound, striking out seven batters in 2.1 innings of work.

Trailing 5-0 after three innings, Palmer sent a one-out single to center field before Rhault cleared the left field fence on a 1-0 pitch that made the score 5-2. The Wolfpack, however, scored again in the bottom of the inning before Rhault plated two more in the top of the sixth on another two-run bomb that scored Palmer and got the Rams to within two (6-4).

NC State had extended its lead to 7-4 after six complete innings.

URI kept things rolling in the top of the seventh as sophomore Evan Laude (Long Beach, N.Y.) led off with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a single by classmate Jeff Cammans (Jamestown, R.I.). Both runners advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Mike LeBel (Quincy, Mass.), setting up Burns' two-run single down the right field line to make the score 7-6.

Rhode Island then took over the lead with an explosive five-run eighth inning. Redshirt freshman Adam Derner (River Edge, N.J.) got things started when he took first after being hit by NC State's Cory Mizzoni. Pinch runner Dan Haverstick (Marlton, N.J.) then advanced to second on a ground-out by Laude and took third on Cammas' single to right. LeBel then walked to load the bases for Burns, who also drew a walk that scored Haverstick and tied things up at 7-7.

Palmer went on to belt a two-run single that scored Cammans and LeBel before Rhault plated Burns on a run-scoring single that also moved Palmer to third. Palmer then crossed the plate on a wild pitch to put the Rams in front 11-7.

Kyle Wilson's RBI single in the bottom of the inning proved to be the Wolkpack's final run of the game as Rhody hung on for the 11-8 victory.

Junior starter Tim Boyce (Swansea, Mass.) tossed four innings for URI, striking out seven batters and allowing six runs. Sophomore Gardner Leaver (Montauk, N.Y.) relieved Boyce in the fifth and gave up one run over 2.1 innings. Mizzoni was charged with the loss for NC State.

The Rams return to Doak Field at 11 a.m. on Saturday when they face Santa Clara - which defeated Xavier, 3-0, in Friday's early game.