March 26, 2010

Box Score

AMBLER, Pa. - Rhode Island senior Tim Boyce struck out eight batters and tossed his first complete game of the season as the Rams downed Temple, 4-1, in the Atlantic 10 opener for both squads. Three of Rhody's four runs of the afternoon were scored with two outs.

With the win, URI improves to 8-11 (1-0) while the Owls drop to 2-15 (0-1).

Offensively, sophomore Mike LeBel led the way for Rhode Island as he extended his hitting streak to seven games with a 2-for-3 day at the plate. LeBel also scored a pair of runs for the Rams.

Rhody first got on the board in the top of the third when senior Oliver Palmer's RBI ground out drove in LeBel, who had tripled to right. The Rams went up 2-0 the following inning as junior Tom Coulombe led off with up the middle before crossing the plate on a two-out single to left by senior Rob DeVeney.

Temple's lone run came in the bottom of the fifth as Jean Carlos Diaz scored from third when Ben Flanary grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

URI plated two more in the top of the eighth as LeBel was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on junior Kyle Borden's single up the middle. Like LeBel, Borden then stole second and took third on a passed ball before crossing the plate on a single by freshman Kyle Stenhouse.

Boyce picked up the win for URI - his first of the season - while Temple's Matt Mongiardini took the loss after giving up six hits and four runs (three earned) in 7.2 innings of work.

Rhode Island and Temple return to Skip Wilson Field tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.