University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Grand Slam Lifts URI, 11-7 Win
May 08, 2009 | Baseball
May 8, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass baseball team rallied for five runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at seven, but a grand slam by Dan Rhault in the 10th inning lifted Rhode Island past the Minutemen, 11-7, in game one of the weekend series on Friday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. With the loss, UMass falls to 19-24 on the season 11-11 in the Atlantic 10, while the Rams improve to 33-15-1, 18-3 in conference play.
Rhode Island began with a 4-0 lead after scoring in each of the first three innings. With two down in the top of the first, Rhault drew a walk and Tom Coulombe doubled to center to drive in the run. Coulombe then crossed the plate on an error to bring the score to 2-0.
A walk resulted in the Rams' next run, as well. Rob DeVeney reached base with a free pass to lead off the second and Zoey Angulo lofted a double into right with one out to bring in DeVeney. The following inning, Mike LeBel ripped a two-bagger to right center, stole third and came home on a sacrifice fly by DeVeney.
The Minutemen pushed across their first run of the day in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Senior Adam Tempesta poked a single through the right side and senior Jim Macdonald drove him in with a single to left.
Rhode Island took the run back with a solo home run in the top of the sixth by DeVeney, but UMass countered with a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame to stay within three of the Rams at 5-2. Junior Brian Baudinet started off the Minutemen's turn at bat with a double to right center and Macdonald followed with a single to left to pick up the RBI.
Then in the top of the eighth, Rhode Island increased its advantage to 7-2. Milan Adams reached on a fielder's choice and scored on an RBI single by Oliver Palmer. Then Kenny Burns, who dropped down a bunt single earlier in the inning, scored on a sacrifice fly by Rhault.
Refusing to go quietly, UMass rallied for five runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull even with the Rams at 7-7. Baudinet belted a leadoff homer to begin the scoring. Macdonald reached on an error, junior Mike Donato ripped a double to left and junior Mike Gedman was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for sophomore Peter Copa, who looped a softly hit ball to short for an infield single that sent in the team's fourth run. Redshirt senior Jim Cassidy stepped in as a pinch hitter and knocked a ball to third, which LeBel overthrew to first, resulting in three runs coming home for the Minutemen. Cassidy went to third on a wild pitch with just one out, but UMass was not able to bring in the go-ahead run. The squad would have Macdonald in scoring position the next inning, as well, but the Minutemen were unable to register a walkoff hit in the ninth.
In the top of the 10th after a double, an error and a hit batter, Rhault stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and sent a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right center.
Ken Graveline retired UMass' side in order in the bottom of the 10th to pick up the win (6-1). In his two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, Graveline allowed just one hit with no walks and one strikeout. Senior Mitchell Eilenberg worked 2.1 innings of relief for the Minutemen and took the loss (2-4). He allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
Macdonald and Mike Gedman paced the Minutemen at the plate, both going 3-for-4 on the afternoon with a run scored, while Macdonald had two RBI, as well. Baudinet was the only other UMass player to finish with multiple hits as he was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Rhault batted 2-for-3 at the plate and led the way for URI with five RBI and two runs scored. Four additional members of the Rams' lineup tallied multiple hits, including DeVeney, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and scored twice in the contest.
The teams will be back in action tomorrow, May 9, with game two set for 1 p.m. at Earl Lorden Field. Prior to the contest, members of UMass' 1969 squad that won a District I title and advanced to the College World Series will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
