March 30, 2011

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KINGSTON, R.I. - Junior pitcher Anthony Pisani recorded a career-high nine strikeouts as the Rhode Island baseball team posted its first shutout of the season in a 4-0 victory over Boston College on Wednesday afternoon. Pisani allowed just four hits over seven innings and issued zero walks to pick up his second win in as many appearances.

Sophomore Mike Bradstreet and senior Dan Johnson handled things in the eighth and ninth, respectively, giving up just one hit over the final two innings. BC's five hits match a season best for the Rhody pitching staff as the Rams also allowed just five hits in their win over Western Michigan on March 2.

Offensively, redshirt sophomore Pat Fortunato led the way with two hits and two RBI while junior Mike LeBel and senior Kyle Borden both homered for the Rams. Each of Rhode Island's starters reached base at least once on the afternoon.

Leading off for URI in the bottom of the first, LeBel sent the first pitch he saw out of the park to give the Rams an early advantage. Rhody scored again in the bottom of the second when a two-out RBI single by Fortunato plated redshirt junior Greg Annarummo, who had singled up the middle.

Borden made it a 3-0 game in the bottom of the fourth, launching his team-leading fifth homerun of the season over the trees behind the centerfield fence at Bill Beck Field.

Meanwhile, Pisani was getting things done in the field, striking out at least one batter per inning and never facing more than four in a frame. Behind him, the Rams played perfect defense for the sixth time this season.

Rhode Island tacked on one more in the bottom of the seventh when freshman Joe Landi drew a lead off walk and eventually came around to score on another RBI single by Fortunato.

The win evens Rhode Island's record at 11-11 while Boston College drops to 10-13.

The Rams are back in action this weekend when they travel to La Salle for a three-game set against the Explorers. The teams will play at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.