Rhody baseball shuts out Dayton, improves overall record to 17-10-1
Kyle Towne
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: Sports
A walk earned by sophomore Kenny Burns followed by back-to-back RBI doubles by sophomore Pete Mastors and Palmer put the Rams up 10-1.
Boyce headed out for the ninth inning attempting to get his first complete game of the year. He finished the game strong, getting the last batter to hit into a double play to end the game.
Palmer finished the game 4-4 with three RBI's and two runs scored, while freshman catcher Milan Adams added a 3-4 effort, scoring three runs in the process.
Boyce improved to 3-1 with his complete game effort, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out seven batters.
In the second game of the series, junior Nick Greenwood squared off against Dayton starter Quinn Haselhorst. Both pitchers dominated the opposing offenses early on, as the game remained scoreless heading into the bottom of the fifth.
LeBel led things off in the inning with a single, and came around to score on a fielding error by Dayton on a double by Burns. Burns was then thrown out at third on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt by Adams. Palmer smashed a double with two outs in the inning to bring Adams in, giving the Rams a 2-0 advantage.
"It's important to win the first game of a doubleheader," Palmer said.
Greenwood continued his successful game in the top of the sixth, retiring the side in order.
"We got some more great pitching out of Greenwood," Palmer said. "He kept us in the game."
However, his performance would quickly come to an end in the seventh inning, as Dayton finally got things going offensively. After allowing three doubles to four hitters, Greenwood was taken out of the game with the score tied 2-2. The relief pitching of junior Mark Fraser and sophomore Gardner Leaver combined to retire the next two hitters and got the Rams out of the inning with the game still tied.
"The bullpen really pitched well for us when we needed it," Palmer said.
After the Rams were set down in order in the bottom of the seventh, Leaver returned to pitch the top of the eighth. He kept the tied score intact as he set down the three batters he faced in order.
Boyce headed out for the ninth inning attempting to get his first complete game of the year. He finished the game strong, getting the last batter to hit into a double play to end the game.
Palmer finished the game 4-4 with three RBI's and two runs scored, while freshman catcher Milan Adams added a 3-4 effort, scoring three runs in the process.
Boyce improved to 3-1 with his complete game effort, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out seven batters.
In the second game of the series, junior Nick Greenwood squared off against Dayton starter Quinn Haselhorst. Both pitchers dominated the opposing offenses early on, as the game remained scoreless heading into the bottom of the fifth.
LeBel led things off in the inning with a single, and came around to score on a fielding error by Dayton on a double by Burns. Burns was then thrown out at third on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt by Adams. Palmer smashed a double with two outs in the inning to bring Adams in, giving the Rams a 2-0 advantage.
"It's important to win the first game of a doubleheader," Palmer said.
Greenwood continued his successful game in the top of the sixth, retiring the side in order.
"We got some more great pitching out of Greenwood," Palmer said. "He kept us in the game."
However, his performance would quickly come to an end in the seventh inning, as Dayton finally got things going offensively. After allowing three doubles to four hitters, Greenwood was taken out of the game with the score tied 2-2. The relief pitching of junior Mark Fraser and sophomore Gardner Leaver combined to retire the next two hitters and got the Rams out of the inning with the game still tied.
"The bullpen really pitched well for us when we needed it," Palmer said.
After the Rams were set down in order in the bottom of the seventh, Leaver returned to pitch the top of the eighth. He kept the tied score intact as he set down the three batters he faced in order.
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