April 17, 2010

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - Junior Ken Graveline scattered just four hits with no earned runs over 8.2 innings as the Rhode Island baseball team downed visiting Massachusetts, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon.

Redshirt sophomore Dan Haverstick paced the Rams' offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBI while junior Tom Coulombe recorded a pair of hits and scored two of URI's three runs on the day.

Graveline - who retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced - got the win on the hill, improving to 4-2 on the year. He has now pitched 16.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. Classmate Gardner Leaver came on to close out the game in the top of the ninth and collected his league-leading seventh save of the season.

Rhode Island (17-15, 7-4) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Coulombe sent a leadoff single through the left side and stole both second and third before crossing the plate on an RBI single by Haverstick.

Another run-scoring single by Haverstick doubled the Rams lead in the fourth inning as junior Kyle Borden's run made it a 2-0 game.

Massachusetts (6-19, 4-7), however, tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fifth to even the score at two apiece.

Rhody managed just one hit in its next three trips to the plate and didn't get the go-ahead run until the bottom of the eighth. Coulombe got things started with a one-out infield single before advancing to second on a base hit by junior Evan Laude. Coulombe then recorded what proved to be the winning run when he scored from second on senior Zoey Angulo's 4-6 fielder's choice play.

Graveline came back out in the ninth and struck out UMass' first batter before successfully fielding a bunt for out number two. The Minutemen continued to battle - putting a pair of runners on after a Peter Copa doubled to left center and Tom Conley drew a walk - but Leaver came in and earned a one-pitch save after Mike Gedman grounded out to first base.

UMass' Jared Freni went the distance for the Minutemen and took the loss after giving up three runs (all earned) on seven hits and a trio of walks.

The two teams will return to Bill Beck Field to close out the three-game set, tomorrow at Noon.