Spring Break
Rhody baseball pitches season opener in NC
Kayla Panu
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Sports
02/27/09 - Last weekend the University of Rhode Island baseball team opened its season in North Carolina, defeating North Carolina State 11-8 but losing to Santa Clara University 10-1, and to Xavier University, 6-5.
"I thought the team did very well," head coach Jim Foster said. "The first game [against NC State] was great. That was one of the best wins in program history."
The Wolfpack jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first three innings. In the fourth inning, junior Oliver Palmer hit a one-out single to center and scored on senior Dan Rhault's homer over the left field fence to creep up on the Wolfpack, 5-2. NC State added another run before Rhault smashed a two-run homer in the sixth, making the score 6-4.
URI got within one point with sophomore Kenny Burns' two-run single in the seventh after another run was scored by NC State. The Rams continued scoring in the eighth with five runs to make the score 11-7 in Rhody's favor. URI gave up one more run but kept the 11-8 lead for the victory.
Junior starter Tim Boyce went four innings, striking out seven, and allowed six runs. Senior Luke Demko received the win, striking out all seven batters in the 2.1 innings he pitched.
"The way they battled," Foster said about Palmer and Rhault, "they played really well and really swung the bats."
The second game on Saturday was against Santa Clara and Foster said that the game had gotten away late. The Rams lost 10-1.
"[Freshman] Mike LeBel did a great job at third base and swung the bat well," Foster said. "Milan Adams, freshman catcher, also did a good job. They got their feet wet."
LeBel went 3-for-4.
Junior southpaw Nick Greenwood got the loss, pitching five innings with five hits and three runs. He also struck out four players.
Santa Clara started with the lead at 2-0, but Rhody scored one in the bottom of the second. The Rams squandered a scoring chance in the fifth when the inning ended in a fielder's choice play with the bases loaded. Santa Clara added to its lead in the sixth with four runs and four more in the seventh to take the 10-1 lead and win.
"I thought the team did very well," head coach Jim Foster said. "The first game [against NC State] was great. That was one of the best wins in program history."
The Wolfpack jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first three innings. In the fourth inning, junior Oliver Palmer hit a one-out single to center and scored on senior Dan Rhault's homer over the left field fence to creep up on the Wolfpack, 5-2. NC State added another run before Rhault smashed a two-run homer in the sixth, making the score 6-4.
URI got within one point with sophomore Kenny Burns' two-run single in the seventh after another run was scored by NC State. The Rams continued scoring in the eighth with five runs to make the score 11-7 in Rhody's favor. URI gave up one more run but kept the 11-8 lead for the victory.
Junior starter Tim Boyce went four innings, striking out seven, and allowed six runs. Senior Luke Demko received the win, striking out all seven batters in the 2.1 innings he pitched.
"The way they battled," Foster said about Palmer and Rhault, "they played really well and really swung the bats."
The second game on Saturday was against Santa Clara and Foster said that the game had gotten away late. The Rams lost 10-1.
"[Freshman] Mike LeBel did a great job at third base and swung the bat well," Foster said. "Milan Adams, freshman catcher, also did a good job. They got their feet wet."
LeBel went 3-for-4.
Junior southpaw Nick Greenwood got the loss, pitching five innings with five hits and three runs. He also struck out four players.
Santa Clara started with the lead at 2-0, but Rhody scored one in the bottom of the second. The Rams squandered a scoring chance in the fifth when the inning ended in a fielder's choice play with the bases loaded. Santa Clara added to its lead in the sixth with four runs and four more in the seventh to take the 10-1 lead and win.
