04/03/09 - The University of Rhode Island baseball team was unable to pull off any victories in three close games this week, losing to Central Connecticut State University 10-9 as well as losing to and tying Brown University in a doubleheader, 7-6 and 7-7.On Tuesday, the CCSU Blue Devils rallied from behind on two occasions to beat the Rams 10-9.
"There were plays down the stretch that hurt us," junior Oliver Palmer said. "We needed a big play and couldn't get it."
Sophomore Pete Mastors led off the game with a single up the middle in the top of the first. He advanced to second on a throwing error and to third on a sacrifice bunt. A one-out single by senior Dan Rhault allowed Mastors to cross the plate to give the Rams a 1-0 lead early on.
Sophomore starter Ken Graveline had a smooth first inning, striking out two as he sat down the first three hitters in order. Both teams got a base runner on in the second inning but were unable to produce any runs.
Over the next three innings the Rams pushed across four more runs, giving them a 5-0 lead.
"We got the bats going early," Palmer said. "It's always good to score a lot of runs early."
In the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Devils' offense came to life. A pair of singles and a fielder's choice set up a sac fly, followed by a two-run homer to bring the score to 5-3.
CCSU continued scoring in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two more runs on four consecutive two-out singles to tie the game up at five apiece.
"We didn't pitch or play defense well," Palmer said. "And that's what you need to win games."
The Rams took the game back over with a four-run seventh inning that included a two-run double by junior outfielder Zoey Angulo.
The Blue Devils rallied once again in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring three times on a two-run triple and a sac fly. The Rams were unable to produce any insurance runs in the top of the ninth, heading into the inning with a one-run lead.
Facing loads of pressure and a one-run deficit in the ninth, the Blue Devils did not falter. Junior Kyle Zarotney grounded out to senior pitcher Luke Demko to lead off the inning. A playable grounder appeared to be the second out of the inning, but an error by sophomore first baseman Tom Coulombe allowed the runner to reach first safely. Demko struck out the following batter for the second out of the inning. A clutch two-out double by junior Sean Allaire allowed the runner to score and tie up the game. After advancing to third on the throw home, Allaire scored on a wild pitch by Demko, ending the game at 10-9 in favor of the Blue Devils.
"It was a tough loss," Palmer said. "It was a reality check for the team, we learned from it and moved on."
Rhault went 4-5 in the game for the Rams, with two runs and an RBI. Mastors, Coulombe, Angulo and Palmer recorded multi-hit games.
On Wednesday, the Rams traveled to Providence for a doubleheader against Brown University.
"After the tough loss we wanted to turn the page against Brown," Palmer said.
In the first game, both offenses got going in the second inning. With the bases loaded and one out, the Rams produced three runs after a passed ball and a single. The Bears answered right back with three runs of their own, scoring on a two-run double and an RBI single.
"We hit well once again in the Brown games," Palmer said.
In the bottom of the third, Brown hit a couple of singles en route to scoring a go-ahead fourth run.
A leadoff walk followed by a double had the Rams in business in the top of the fourth. A single by freshman Mike Eschmann plated one runner, and advanced the other to third. A deep fly ball by sophomore Kenny Burns allowed the other runner to tag up and score, giving the Rams a 5-4 lead.
The Rams held this lead until the bottom of the sixth, when a throwing error allowed a Brown runner to score and tie the game at 5-5.
"The pitching and the defense just weren't there again," Palmer said.
In the top of the seventh and final inning, the Rams climbed back on top when Coulombe drove in Rhault on a sacrifice grounder to the pitcher.
In the bottom of the seventh, junior reliever Nick Greenwood quickly worked his way into a jam. With the bases loaded and one out, junior catcher Joe Mellano's pinch-hit single drove in two runs, winning the game for Brown, 7-6.
"Once again we needed that big play down the stretch," Palmer said. "We just couldn't get it."
The Rams got their offense going early in the second game, scoring twice on a two-run double by freshman Ryan O'Neill to go ahead 2-0.
Brown answered right back the following inning, scoring twice to even the score at 2-2.
The offensive battle continued in the second, when freshman Dan Haverstick and junior Luis Chacon both singled and scored on a two-run double by freshman Mike LeBel. Freshman Sam VandenHeuvel followed up with a single, scoring LeBel from second.
A two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning by LeBel put the Rams ahead comfortably, 7-2.
After allowing a run in the bottom of the fourth and being shutout in the top of the fifth, the Rams headed into the bottom of the fifth inning up 7-3.
Brown rallied away the deficit, and was able to produce four runs and tie the score before the game was called because of darkness.
"Although Brown had the momentum we wanted to play and get the win," Palmer said. "It's a lot easier to take a tie after you've won the first game of a doubleheader, but it was tough that we lost."
LeBel extended his hitting streak to 13 games, flashing plenty of power with a home run and two doubles, driving in four runs and scoring three.
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