May 21, 2009

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DAYTON, Ohio - Junior Oliver Palmer (North Kingston, R.I.) launched his first career grand slam as part of a five-run fifth inning and junior Dan Rossignol (Nashua, N.H.) pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth as second-seeded Rhode Island edged No. 3 Xavier, 7-6, on Wednesday afternoon at the 2009 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship. The win was Rhody's 36th victory of the season, marking a new single-season record for the Rams.

Redshirt junior Tim Boyce (Swansea, Mass.) got the win on the mound for URI, giving up five hits over 6.1 innings to improve to 6-2 on the season. Paced by junior Zoey Angulo's (Miami, Fla.) 2-for-4 day at the plate, each of Rhody's starters recorded at least one hit on the afternoon.

The win marked Rhody's 36th of the season, a program single-season record. Overall, Rhody improves to 36-18-1 while Xavier drops to 34-19. Making their league-leading seventh consecutive appearance in the A-10 Championship and seeking their first crown since 2005, the Rams will face top-seeded Dayton at Noon on Friday with the winners advancing to Saturday's championship round.

"Every time we play Xavier we have good, close, hard fought games. To beat them you have to play all 27 outs," said URI head coach Jim Foster. "Tomorrow versus Dayton should be a great game. They swing the bat very, very well."

Billy O'Connor put the Musketeers ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning, drawing a lead-off walk and eventually scoring on a single to center by Neil Lindgren. The lead was short-lived though as senior Dan Rhault (Lincoln, R.I.) ripped a two-out shot over the fence in left field to even things up at 1-1.

After three and a half scoreless innings, Rhode Island plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. Junior Rob DeVeney (Marlton, N.J.) got things started with a one-out single to left field and freshman Milan Adams (Exeter, R.I.) followed with a base hit to right field. Sophomore Kenny Burns (Shelton, Conn.) kept things rolling with a single back to the mound that Xavier's Danny Rosenbaum lost in the sun.

With bases loaded, Angulo sent an RBI-single to right field to score DeVeney before Palmer blasted one out of the park - just over the 402 marker in centerfield - to plate four runs. The grand slam didn't come without controversy though as there was some confusion as to whether or not the ball actually cleared the fence as it had bounced back into the park. After a brief discussion between the four umpires, the hit was declared a home run - Palmer's 11th of the season.

"I just wanted to get something out in the air and stay out of the double play in that situation," said Palmer. "I put a good swing on it and it just carried out of there."

Xavier began to chip away at the URI lead, scoring two runs in the seventh and another in the top of the eighth to get to within two.

In the bottom of the frame, however, Rhody went back up by three (7-4) after sophomore Tom Coulombe (Lincoln, R.I.) singled through the left side, advanced to second on a balk, stole third and crossed the plate on a bunt-single by freshman Mike LeBel (Quincy, Mass.).

Facing senior Luke Demko (Gilford, N.H.) in the top of the ninth, the Musketeers rallied back in the as Lindgren led off with a single up the middle and Ben Thomas and Jordan Conley followed with back to back walks to load the bases with no outs. Rossignol then came on and struck out the first two batters he faced before John McCambridge sent a two-run single to center to make it a one-run game. Adam Pasono, however, flied out to right field to end the game with Rhode Island on top 7-6.