Rhody baseball pitches season opener in NC

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.

"We swung the bats well and competed well, but the pitching was not what it needs to be early on," Foster said. "Our defense, pitching and base running were average."

On Sunday the Rams had another close game against Xavier but lost 6-5.

Xavier took the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. In the third, LeBel singled up the middle and scored on Rhault's sacrifice fly to cut Xavier's lead in half.

In the fifth, Rhody took the lead when junior Zoey Angulo doubled LeBel and Rhault doubled Angulo and Burns across the plate, 4-2.

Junior Rob Deveney put the Rams ahead again in the eighth with a homerun after Xavier tied the score at four.

Rhode Island made an error in the bottom of the inning that scored two Musketeers, giving Xavier the 6-5 victory.

Foster noted that his pitchers did a good job but they need to build up the pitcher/catcher relationship. There are a few new catchers this season after the departure of Zach Zaneski.

"We just need to get out there and play more games," Foster said. "We need to get on a field and practice and play out there. And we need to fix things and keep it simple."

This weekend the Rams will travel to Florida for the Winter Haven Tournament with two games against Duquesne University.