April 21, 2009

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - Sophomore Chris Pickering (Lincoln, R.I.) struck out a season-high eight batters as the Rhode Island baseball team defeated Sacred Heart, 7-4, Tuesday afternoon at Bill Beck Field. Heavy rains caused the game to be called game after five and a half innings.

Senior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) and sophomore Kenny Burns (Shelton, Conn.) led the Rams' offense as Rhault blasted his fourth career grand slam and Burns finished with two hits, two runs and two stolen bases.

Pickering retired the Pioneers' first four batters before Mike Olyzyk put Sacred Heart on the board with a solo shot to right centerfield.

Rhody came back an answered with a six-run effort in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and bases loaded, sophomore Pete Mastors (Narragansett, R.I.) singled through the right side to score freshman Mike LeBel (Quincy, Mass.) and sophomore Jeff Cammans (Jamestown, R.I.). Junior Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) was then hit by a pitch to re-load the bases for Rhault, who launched his seventh round-tripper of the season and put the Rams in front 6-1.

Sacred Heart scored twice in the top of the third to cut Rhode Island's lead in half at 6-3 but an RBI groundout by Palmer in the bottom of the fourth made it a 7-4 game.

The Pioneers got their final run in the in the top of the fifth when Phil Tantillo singled through the left side to score Mike Drowne who has tripled to right center with two away.

After a 30-minute rain delay, the two teams took the field in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Sam VandenHeuvel (Chandler, Ariz.) came on to relieve Pickering in the top of the sixth and kept SHU off the board to earn his first career save.

Pickering got the win to improve to 5-2 on the season while Sacred Heart's James Ineson took the loss.

The Rams (25-13-1) return to action on Wednesday afternoon when they host Connecticut (22-16) at 3:30 p.m. Cox Sports Television will air the game - via tape delay - Saturday, April 26th at 7 p.m.