April 13, 2008
Box Score
KINGSTON, R.I. - Dan Rhault's grand slam in the bottom of the eighth helped Rhode Island post a 6-3 victory in Atlantic 10 Conference baseball action today at Bill Beck Field. The Billikens received a strong seven innings from starter Zach Outman and benefited from a two-run home run from J.D. Dunn, but the late heroics delivered the victory and the series sweep for Rhode Island.
With the loss, Saint Louis falls to 14-18 overall and 4-8 in the A-10. Rhode Island improves to 15-17 and 4-8 in the league.
The Billikens jumped on top 2-0 in the third when Dunn drove in a pair with a homer. URI starter Nick Greenwood retired the first seven Billikens he faced before Brandon Parsons drew a walk with one out in the third. Yacoub took Parsons' spot on first after a fielder's choice groundout to bring up Dunn with two down. He then ripped a Greenwood pitch over the right-field wall for a 2-0 Billiken lead. It was Dunn's team-leading third home run of the season and second homer in as many games.
Rhode Island bounced back with a pair of runs off Outman in the fourth. Shaun Hagey and Zach Zaneski both reached after one-out singles, and Mike O'Malley drew the Rams to within one when he drove in Hagey with an RBI groundout. Rob Deveney continued his hot hitting in the series when he plated Zaneski to tie the score 2-2 with a single back up the middle.
Saint Louis reclaimed the lead with a run in the top of the fifth. Mike Beal led off the inning with a single, then with one out he stole second. Yacoub walked to put runners on first and second, and Ryan Bennett followed with an RBI base hit to center to put SLU up 3-2.
Pitching with a 3-2 lead, Outman went on to shut down the Rhody offense from the fifth to the seventh innings before giving way to Brad Perkins in the bottom of the eighth. The Rams quickly went to work as Hagey led off with a walk, then advanced on Zaneski's bunt single. Deveney was intentionally walked to load the bases to set up Rhault's game-deciding grand slam to right field.
Outman scattered eight hits and allowed two runs in seven innings while striking out two and walking one. Offensively, Saint Louis received a hit from seven of its nine starters. Luke Demko got the win for Rhode Island after shutting down the Billiken offense in the final three innings, allowing no hits and striking out four.
Saint Louis steps outside of league play this week with a pair of home mid-week games. UT Martin comes to The Billiken Sports Center for a 2 p.m. matchup on Tuesday, and Eastern Illinois comes to town for a Wednesday tilt slated for 3 p.m.
