April 27, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - In the final game of the three-game Atlantic 10 series at Hank DeVincent Field Sunday, the La Salle Baseball team was shut out by Rhode Island, 6-0, but the Explorers still took the series with wins Friday and Saturday.
The Explorers could only manage three hits in the game and six base runners all afternoon. Only Brian Meagher - in the second - and John Rickards - in the third - ever reached second base, and both times were with two outs.
Meanwhile, Kevin Fuqua was doing his best to keep the Rams off the bases as well, allowing just three harmless singles through four innings of work.
However, Rhode Island (21-21-1, 8-8-1 A-10) scored a pair of unearned runs to take a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. Rob Deveney singled to lead off the frame, which was followed by a grounder back to the pitcher.
Fuqua threw wide of second allowing Deveney to take third. Tom Coulombe then singled him home and put runners at first and second. A wild pitch moved each of them up one base, before Fuqua got the first out with a strikeout.
A grounder to short by Oliver Palmer, which would have ended the inning if not for the error, plated Rob Noe with the second run of the frame.
The Rams added four more runs - two unearned - in the seventh to increase their lead to 6-0. The big blow was a bases clearing three-RBI triple by Shaun Hagey.
Rhode Island's Eric Smith won his first game of 2008 after throwing seven innings of scoreless baseball. He allowed just two hits, one walk, and struck out five as he improved to 1-4. Luke Demko and Tim Boyce each worked an inning to combine on the shutout.
Fuqua, who picked up saves in the first two games of the series, went 6.1 innings, allowing nine hits, six runs, two earned, and struck out six batters. His 60 Ks this season are the ninth-most in a single season at the school.
Shane Frangiosa came in to relieve Fuqua in the seventh and went 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, a walk, and struck out one, while Zach Huff pitched a scoreless ninth.
In the game, Rickards single gave him 197 career hits, one shy of moving into a tie for the sixth-most in a career at La Salle and three shy of 200. He also moved into the sixth spot all-time in total bases (328) and eighth in at-bats (605).
La Salle (11-31, 6-12 A-10) will take the week off before heading out on the road to take on Saint Bonaventure in New York, next Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
