Batsmen Crush URI

With its starting pitcher back in good form and another starter holding down first base, the Harvard baseball team yesterday demolished the University of Rhode Island, 15-6, in Kingston, R-1

The Crimson, which has won 15 of its last 17 games and six in a row, is now 21-8 URI's record falls to 14-15-1

While Harvard sophomore Jim chenevey (now 2-3) was holding the Rams to three hits in seven innings, fellow pitcher Charlie Marchese was holding down first for three flawless frames.

"It was incredible," said the senior hurler, who played all positions during high school and often replaces Captain Elliott Rivera at first during practice "I has a great time."

"He held his own," junior Chris McAndrews said. "He did a good job"

McAndres did a good joh himself, breaking open a 2-1 game in the seven-run fifth with his first collegiate grand slam homer.

URI pitcher Joe Ward had held the Crimson hitless through four innings, but when the Crimson right fielder sent a fastball over the outside corner into right field, he gave the visitors a 6-1 lead.

Senior Scott Vierra also homered, and extended his hitting streak to eight games. Harvard had 15 hits.

"We hit the hell out of the ball," said Chenevey, who rebounded after three losses in a row to strike out 12, walking just four.

Even Marchese hit the ball well, though he went 0-for-2. "He almost got a base hit." Chenevey said of a line drive that went foul down the left field line

Marchese-for-Rivera wasn't the only substitution of the day. Freshman Frank Caprio started in left for senior Jay McNamara, who has a sore shoulder, and in the sixth, sophomore Mike Pakalnis replaced Tony DiCesare at shortstop.

DiCesare had not missed an inning at short since his sophomore year, and when Coach Alex Nahigian proposed the replacement, "'in case you get hurt in the future, 'I said, 'No way,'" DiCesare reported. "But I was just kidding."

He added, "it was a neat perspective--to sit on the bench and watch the game unfold."

When today's game against MIT unfolds at 3 p.m., it will be the last home contest for the squad's nine seniors. Harvard, ranked second in New England, has already clinched its second consecutive GBI title.

The Engineers pose a serious threat in only one department--statistics, Joked DiCesare, "They can calculate their batting average between pitches."