April 29, 2009

Box Score

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The Rhode Island baseball team fell to Siena College, 7-6, in the bottom of the ninth inning on Wednesday night in Loudonville, N.Y. Senior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) led the Rams offensively, recording three hits, two RBI, two runs and two stolen bases.

Redshirt freshman Dan Haverstick (Marlton, N.J.) added a pair of hits for URI while junior Rob DeVeney (Marlton, N.J.) and sophomore Jeff Cammans (Jamestown, R.I.) both drove in a pair of runs.

The loss - which snapped a six-game streak for the Rams - drops Rhody to 30-14-1 on the season. Siena, meanwhile, improves to 11-32.

The Saints took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first while limiting URI to just two hits over the first four innings. However the Rams used a three-hit, four-run fifth inning to take over the lead.

Haverstick led off with a single to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Milan Adams (Exeter, R.I.). Sophomore Pete Mastors (Narragansett, R.I.) was then walked and junior Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) reached on an error to load the bases for Rhault, who sent a two-run single to centerfield.

After a Siena pitching change, redshirt freshman Adam Derner (River Dell, N.J.) was hit by a pitch. DeVeney then singled down the left field line to score both Rhault and Derner and give the Rams a 4-1 lead.

Siena's Anthony Giansanti came back with a two-run shot in the bottom of the frame to make it a 4-3 game.

A two-out two-run homer by Cammans put Rhody back up by three (6-3) in the top of the seventh but Giansanti struck again for the Saints, sending his second two-run homer of the day over the left field fence to make the score 6-5.

Siena would then score two runs off of senior closer Luke Demko (Gilford, N.H.) in the bottom of the ninth to take the win.

Demko, who was charged with the loss, gave up three hits and two runs in 1.1 innings of work. Sophomore starter Chris Pickering (Lincoln, R.I.) allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings before being relieved by junior Dan Rossignol (Nashua, N.H.), who struck out four batters in 2.1 innings on the hill.

Rhody is back in action this weekend when it hosts Fordham for a three-game Atlantic 10 series. The battle of the Rams begins at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The two teams will also play at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Autism Awareness/Ligi Day) and Noon on Sunday (Senior Day).