May 2, 2009

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KINGSTON, R.I. - Freshman Milan Adams (Exeter, R.I.) went 3-for-4 with an RBI to help lead the Rhode Island baseball team to a 5-2 victory over Fordham on Ligi Day at Bill Beck Field. Redshirt freshman Adam Derner (River Dell, N.J.) added two hits as well as two RBI on his first career home run.

Senior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) also finished with a pair of hits, as did junior Oliver Palmer (North Kingstown, R.I.) who scored twice and drove in a run.

Junior lefty Nick Greenwood (Southington, Conn.) tossed 7.1 innings with two unearned runs to get the win for URI while senior Luke Demko (Gilford, N.H.) picked up his league-leading 11th save of the season. Greenwood was also solid defensively, making a sliding stop to rob Mike Mobbs of a bunt single in the top of the fifth before initiating a 1-6-3 double play the following inning.

Fordham's John Flanagan - who was responsible for all five Rhody runs - took the loss.

Rhode Island (31-15-1, 16-3) got on the board first when Palmer led off with a single through the left side, stole second and advanced to third after Fordham catcher Chris Walker's throw down went out into center field. With two away, it appeared as though Flanagan would intentionally walk Derner, but after a last-minute glance to the visiting dugout Flanagan served one up that Derner launched over the right field fence to put Rhody ahead, 2-0.

Fordham (16-28, 10-10) used a pair of unearned runs on a double by John Kahn to even things at 2-2 in the top of the seventh, but URI came back with two runs in the bottom of the frame to reclaim to lead.

Adams led off with a double to right center before advancing to third on a failed pickoff attempt by Flanagan and scoring on a wild pitch. Palmer then blasted his team-leading 10th home run of the season to make it a 4-2 game.

An eighth-inning sacrifice fly by freshman Mike LeBel (Quincy, Mass.) would cap off the Rhode Island scoring as junior pinch runner Zoey Angulo (Miami, Fla.) crossed the plate for URI's fifth run on the afternoon.

Prior to the start of the game, Rhault and junior Eric Smith (Milford, Conn.) were named Rick Ligi Co-MVPs for the 2009 season. Since 1996, the Rick Ligi MVP Award - which is named after the former Rhody baseball player who passed away in the summer of 1995 following his freshman year at URI - has been presented annually to the member of the Rams' baseball team who best embodies Ligi's desire, loyalty and on-the-field ability.

Both Rhault and Smith received the award in a brief pre-game ceremony with the Ligi family. The Ligi's also presented head coach Jim Foster with a contribution to the URI baseball program.

Throughout the course of the game, a number of volunteers and Rhody baseball parents assisted with a silent auction and bake sale, allowing Coach Foster to present the Autism Project of Rhode Island with a $3,100 donation in a post-game ceremony.

Rhody and Fordham will return to Bill Beck Field on Sunday afternoon for the final meeting of the three-game series. First pitch is set for Noon, although fans are encouraged to arrive early for URI's senior day ceremony.