Box Score Feb. 19, 2011
Box Score
LAKE CHARLES, La. - Senior
Tom Coulombe went 4-for-5 with two runs as the Rhode Island baseball team downed McNeese State, 5-2, in the season opener Friday night.
Redshirt junior Chris Pickering got the start for the Rams and struck out five batters while allowing just one run over four innings of work. Sophomore Mike Bradstreet - who was credited with the win - tossed 2.1 innings with three hits and one earned run. Senior Gardner Leaver, meanwhile, earned the save in the bottom of the ninth after classmate Dan Johnson allowed just one hit in two innings of scoreless relief.
Rhode Island (1-0) took a one-run lead in the bottom of the second when Coulombe led off with a single to centerfield, advanced to third after an error by MSU and came around to score on a single by junior Milan Adams.
McNeese State (0-1) evened things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning, but the Rams went on to plate three more in their next trip to the plate, extending the lead to 4-1.
Junior Mike LeBel got things started with a base hit before advancing to second when redshirt junior Jeff Cammans drew a walk. LeBel then crossed the plate on a run-scoring single by Coulombe before Cammans came around on a single by redshirt junior Evan Laude. Freshman Pat Quinn's sacrifice fly then plated Coulombe, putting Rhody in front by three runs.
Senior Kenny Burns would score URI's final run in the top of the sixth, reaching on a two-out single before coming home on a LeBel double.
The Cowboys - who managed to get one back in the bottom of the seventh - loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but Leaver sat Seth Granger down looking to end the game with the Rams on top 5-2.
McNeese State's Jaden Dillon was charged with the loss, giving up four runs on six hits over 4.0 innings. Matt Click tossed the final five innings for MSU and allowed just one run on five hits.
The two teams will return to Cowboy Diamond Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. (ET).
