Baseball got their first wins of the season on the road vs. Old Dominion last weekend. Photo from gorhody.com.
The University of Rhode Island Baseball team took home its first series win this weekend in a three-game matchup against Old Dominion in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Rams secured their first victory of the season in Friday’s game, beating the Monarchs 6-4 after producing in the later innings. Down by a run in the top of the eighth, junior Xavier Vargas hit a leadoff single and both redshirt senior Greg Cavaliere and sophomore Jordan Laske walked to load the bases for Max Mircovich, who singled to score Vargas. With the game tied at three, freshman Tino Salgado grounded out and scored Cavaliere to take the lead for Rhode Island, 4-3.
When Old Dominion tied the game once more in the bottom of the eighth, redshirt senior Josh Brodeur walked to start the ninth. Vargas reached on a single and Cavaliere was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the pinch hitter, redshirt junior Joe Fortin. With a single to right field, Fortin scored both Brodeur and Vargas and gave Rhode Island its go-ahead runs.
On Saturday, URI topped Old Dominion 6-5 after ten innings. The Monarchs led the game 4-0 until the top of the seventh when Rhode Island freshman Addison Kopack walked and advanced on a wild pitch. Mircovich reached on an error and was able to take second base, allowing Kopack to cross home and earn the Rams their first run of the day.
After Mircovich stole third and freshman Alex Ramirez walked, redshirt senior Alex Santos granted the Rams their second run with a groundout to score Mircovich. Junior Austin White singled to move Ramirez to third, and Fortin singled for another run. The bases were loaded after a Laske walk. Vargas grounded to second to score White and tie the game at four, forcing extra innings.
Pinch hitter, redshirt senior Sonny Ulliana doubled to right field to score Vargas and give Rhode Island the go-ahead run. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Mircovich.
In the final game of the series, Old Dominion scored 12 runs in the second inning and dominated URI in a 16-3 win.
Rhode Island Head Coach Raphael Cerrato said the two weekend wins were “excellent” for the team, particularly coming off last week’s series with East Carolina.
“The games Friday and Saturday were similar to our game Friday at [East Carolina],” he said. “It was a super close, well-played game. We came up with a couple big hits Friday and Saturday that we did not have last Friday against East Carolina. That’s pretty much what it comes down to.”
According to Coach Cerrato, the Rams have been able to stay calm and focus on what is in front of them. He said that for the most part, URI played “very good” defense over the weekend, though they still have “a ways to go” offensively.
On Wednesday, Rhode Island travelled to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts to play a midweek game against No. 22 Boston College. The Rams lost, 6-4, where White once again had a big day. He finished the day with three hits, one stolen base, one run, and one RBI in the losing effort.
With more games looming and the cold weather continuing into March, Coach Cerrato said the team still has not been able to practice outside very often, but he has confidence that they’ll get better as the season goes on.
“We haven’t played very much in a long time,” he said. “I think each and every game we play is a good thing. Whether we win or lose, right now there’s a chance to learn or a chance to progress.”
Rhody returns to the diamond this weekend for a series vs UMASS Lowell. It will be the first time the Rams will play at home this season. First pitch at Bill Beck Field is scheduled for noontime on Saturday.