Autumn Walter | CIGAR | Rebecca Simms plays a good game but is unable to make it to home plate.
It was a tough weekend for the University of Rhode Island softball team as they got swept in their three game set with St. Joseph’s.
URI was only able to scratch across one run during the double header on Saturday afternoon. St Joe’s made a statement in the first game as they won 20-1 while tattooing URI for 25 hits. The Hawks finished the day by beating URI 4-0 in the second game.
In the series finale on Sunday a Rhody comeback came up just short as the Rams fell 4-2.
URI started the first game off strong as they carried a 1-0 run into the fifth inning. They got their run courtesy of junior Adriana Toro as she belted a home run in the first inning.It was all Hawks from that point on as St.Joes put up a eight spot in the fifth inning. The Hawks made sure the Rams didn’t come back as they piled on 12 more runs in the sixth. The 25 hits for Saint Joseph’s in Game One was the most on record by a Rhode Island opponent in a single game.
The second game of the day picked up where the last one ended as the Hawks put up two runs in the first inning. URI came within inches of taking the lead as Melanie Martire sent a ball to the wall with the bases loaded. St Joes tacked on two more runs and ended the day with two wins.
In the series finale on Sunday St. Joes got off to a hot start as they put up two runs in the first inning. URI kept it close all game and had an opportunity to even the score as they put the tying runs on base in the bottom of the seventh. The Rams comeback bid fell just short as a pop out and fly out dashed any hopes of winning.
It was a key weekend for both teams as URI (11-28, 3-8 A-10) came into the weekend trailing George Mason University by three games for sixth place in the standings. As the season is winding down, URI needed to make a push to make up ground.
St. Joseph’s (18-22, 3-10 A-10) was two spots behind Rhode Island in the standings but with their weekend sweep of the Rams they move up to seventh and push the Rhody down to the eight spot.
URI is back in action as they travel to upstate New York to take on St. Bonaventure in a three game series this weekend looking to have a strong finish to the season.