April 19, 2009

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island baseball team extended its winning streak to seven games with a 12-5 victory over St. Bonaventure, Sunday afternoon at Bill Beck Field. Junior Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI while freshman Mike LeBel (Quincy, Mass.) recorded two hits - including his sixth home run of the season - and four RBI.

With the series sweep over the Bonnies, the Rams remain in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 standings with an 12-2 league record (24-12-1 overall). Rhody is 9-1 on its home field this season and a perfect 8-0 in A-10 home games.

Junior Eric Smith (Milford, Conn.) earned the win on the mound for URI, giving up four runs on four hits with six strikeouts in six innings of work. Jim Britton took the loss for the Bonnies, who drop to 16-15 (5-9) on the season.

Sophomore Pete Mastors (Narragansett, R.I.) got things started in the bottom of the first as he led off with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a ground-rule double by Palmer. Senior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) then grounded out to short to score Mastors and move Palmer to third before sophomore Tom Coulombe (Lincoln, R.I.) was hit by a pitch and redshirt freshman Adam Derner (River Edge, N.J.) was walked to load the bases. Junior Rob DeVeney (Marlton, N.J.) followed with an RBI ground-out back to the mound to make the score 2-0.

The inning should have ended when sophomore Jeff Cammans (Jamestown, R.I) struck out swinging but the ball got past SBU catcher Michael Greico, allowing Coulombe to cross the plate, Derner to move to third and Cammans to reach first safely. LeBel then launched a three-run shot over the left-center fence to put Rhody on top, 6-0, after one inning of play.

Anthony Randich's two-run homer made it a 6-2 game in the top of the fourth but Palmer's RBI double to left center put the Rams back up by five (7-2) in the bottom of the inning.

URI plated two more in the bottom of the fifth as Coulombe led off with a ground-rule double to left center, advanced to third on Derner's single up the middle and scored on a sac-fly by DeVeney. After Derner stole second, sophomore Kenny Burns (Shelton, Conn.) came in to pinch run and advanced to third on a ground out by Cammans before crossing the plate on LeBel's bunt-single.

St. Bonaventure added two runs in the top of the sixth and another in the top of the seventh to trail 9-5 heading into the eighth. There, Rhody tacked on three more - on an RBI single by Palmer and a two-run double by Rhault - to take the 12-5 win.

The Rams return to action on Monday afternoon when they travel to Northeastern for a 3 p.m. meeting with the Huskies.