2008 Woodie Awards
Rookie Chris Pickering throws one-hitter in URI baseball win against Marist College
Kayla Panu
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Sports
03/28/08 - University of Rhode Island freshman left-handed pitcher Chris Pickering led the baseball team to a 1-0 win against Marist College yesterday, giving up only one hit in the ninth inning.
"It was a great performance by Chris Pickering," head coach Jim Foster said. "We definitely needed it since we had a rough patch in the previous four or five games. Chris did a great job."
After walking six batters throughout the first seven innings, Pickering had a 1-2-3 inning, getting two groundouts and a strikeout in the eighth. He came back out to start the ninth already being over his pitch count. Marist's first batter, Brian McDonough, took the ball to right field, knocking Pickering out of the game.
"It was a routine, ground ball that had a bad hop over [first baseman Zach] Zaneski's glove," Foster said. "Part of me was saying he was already over his pitch count and [sophomore] Tim Boyce was ready to go [in the bullpen]."
Boyce came out to close the game getting the first out on a sacrifice bunt that became two outs when McDonough tried to take one too many bases. He went from first to third but was thrown out at third by Zaneski. The game finished with a groundout.
The Rams scored their only run in the fourth inning. After a leadoff groundout, Zaneski doubled to left field. Senior designated hitter Shaun Hagey grounded out to shortstop, giving Zaneski a chance for third base. Sophomore third baseman Oliver Palmer singled to right field, driving in Zaneski giving URI the 1-0 lead.
"Zach is consistent," Foster said about Zaneski, who now has a 10-game hitting streak. "He is the same everyday. He is a guy who never stops working and has turned himself into a good player."
Freshman right fielder Tom Coulombe struck out looking to end the inning.
URI attempted to score again in the eighth inning but came up short. URI senior shortstop Mike O'Malley singled to center to start the inning and took second on a passed ball. He made it to third on a single by sophomore centerfielder Rob Deveney. But Deveney was caught stealing and both freshmen catcher Robert Noe and second baseman Casey Ide struck out looking to end the inning.
"It was a great performance by Chris Pickering," head coach Jim Foster said. "We definitely needed it since we had a rough patch in the previous four or five games. Chris did a great job."
After walking six batters throughout the first seven innings, Pickering had a 1-2-3 inning, getting two groundouts and a strikeout in the eighth. He came back out to start the ninth already being over his pitch count. Marist's first batter, Brian McDonough, took the ball to right field, knocking Pickering out of the game.
"It was a routine, ground ball that had a bad hop over [first baseman Zach] Zaneski's glove," Foster said. "Part of me was saying he was already over his pitch count and [sophomore] Tim Boyce was ready to go [in the bullpen]."
Boyce came out to close the game getting the first out on a sacrifice bunt that became two outs when McDonough tried to take one too many bases. He went from first to third but was thrown out at third by Zaneski. The game finished with a groundout.
The Rams scored their only run in the fourth inning. After a leadoff groundout, Zaneski doubled to left field. Senior designated hitter Shaun Hagey grounded out to shortstop, giving Zaneski a chance for third base. Sophomore third baseman Oliver Palmer singled to right field, driving in Zaneski giving URI the 1-0 lead.
"Zach is consistent," Foster said about Zaneski, who now has a 10-game hitting streak. "He is the same everyday. He is a guy who never stops working and has turned himself into a good player."
Freshman right fielder Tom Coulombe struck out looking to end the inning.
URI attempted to score again in the eighth inning but came up short. URI senior shortstop Mike O'Malley singled to center to start the inning and took second on a passed ball. He made it to third on a single by sophomore centerfielder Rob Deveney. But Deveney was caught stealing and both freshmen catcher Robert Noe and second baseman Casey Ide struck out looking to end the inning.