University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Rams Sneak Past Minutemen 5-4
May 19, 2006 | Baseball
May 19, 2006
KINGSTON, R.I. -
The Minutemen (14-29, 11-15 Atlantic 10) ended up on the losing end of a back a back and forth game as Rhode Island (33-14, 18-8 A-10) pulled out the 5-4 victory on Friday afternoon. With the game knotted at 4-4 in the seventh, the Rams manufactured a run on a RBI single by Shaun Hagey to take 5-4 advantage. The Minutemen we held to just five hits on the afternoon, but capitalized on two URI errors to generate their offensive production. Junior shortstop Lou Proietti (Hamilton, Ont.) led UMass batters as he was 2-4 with two RBI.
Rhode Island broke a 4-4 dead lock in the bottom half of the seventh inning thanks to some aggressive base running by left fielder Daryl Holcomb. The senior drew a walk and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wayne Russo. In the ensuing at bat, Holcomb took a large lead at second and broke for third, swiping the base without a throw. With two away in the inning, Hagey singled to left scoring Holcomb with the game winning run for the final of 5-4.
UMass had tied the game in the top half of the fourth after trailing 4-3. With two away and junior Bryan Adamski (South Deerfield, Mass.) on third, freshman Joe Cotone (Yorktown, N.Y.) hit a high pop-up to short right field that was dropped by Russo. Adamski was able to come across safely as a result making it a 4-4 game.
URI got the bats going early as it put up two runs in the first inning. Scott Brown got the offensive attack started, belting a RBI triple to put the Rams up 1-0. Ryan Cunningham followed with a RBI double that brought in Brown to make it 2-0.
The Minutemen pulled ahead in the top of the third, taking advantage of a leadoff double by Cotone and a URI error on a Travis Munsey (Durham, N.H.) sacrifice bunt. Senior Derrick Durepo (Ware, Mass.) drove in Cotone with a single through the right side to make it 2-1. Proietti brought both Munsey and Durepo home as he stroked a two RBI single to left, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit to a double. However, the Minutemen left the frame with a 3-2 advantage.
The Rams reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning thanks, once again, to Cunningham's bat. The first basemen hit a two-run home run to right field giving URI a 4-3 lead. Cunningham finished 2-3 on the afternoon with a run scored and three RBI.
Ram starter Adam Perkins earned the win as he went 7.2 innings, surrendering four runs (two earned) on five hits to improve to 6-2. Jamie Degidio recorded the final four outs to earn his second save of the season for URI. Senior starter David Sullivan (Winchester, Mass.) turned out a gutsy eight-inning performance, allowing the five runs on 10 hits, but was saddled with the loss falling to 4-7.
The two teams wrap up the three-game set Saturday afternoon at 12 noon. Fans can follow the game at home via Gametracker on umassathletics.com. Be sure to check back to umassathletics.com after the game for a complete recap and updated stats.
