The Rams extended their conference record to 6-3 with a series sweep over the weekend. PHOTO CREDIT: Connor Zisk
University of Rhode Island baseball came away with a 3-0 series win last weekend over St. Bonaventure University and moved their record to 16-16 overall and 6-3 in conference play.
Friday’s matchup concluded with Rhode Island hanging up nine runs on the Bonnies. Second-year Anthony Depino got the bats going early with a two-run home run to center field in the second inning, following a base knock from second-year Eric Genther.
Genther got in on the action again in his next at bat, doubling to right center to score first-year Michael Anderson and bring the score to 3-1.
The Rams relinquished their lead over the next few innings. Starting pitcher and third-year Sean Sposato gave up a home run in the third inning, two runs – one earned, one unearned – on two hits and a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning and allowed another run in the sixth inning on a walk and two hits to bring the Bonnie’s lead to 5-3.
Rhode Island answered in the seventh inning, producing three runs of their own to regain the lead at 6-5. After a walk by third-year Alex Ramirez and third-year Addison Kopack getting hit by a pitch, Anderson loaded the bases with a hit that snuck through the left side of the infield. Following the base hit, Genther flew out to left field and Kopack was thrown out. Fourth-year Billy Butler put the runs on the scoreboard with a three-run homerun to right field.
In the eighth, Ramirez recorded his second hit of the day, scoring second-year Rob Butler and first-year Connor Grotyohann, who both reached base on walks.
The Rams tacked on one final run in the ninth inning on a sac fly from DePino to score third-year Calvin McCall.
The bullpen put up 3 and ⅓ innings, allowing just two hits and no runs. Third-year Zach Fernandez recorded the win.
Saturday’s game saw a slow start, according to URI head coach Raphael Cerrato.
“We didn’t have a lot of great at bats early and then finally, the second time through the order, we got a lot of good at bats one right after the other,” Cerrato said.
Third-year starting pitcher Trystan Levesque kept the Rams in the game through the first half, only allowing one run in the fourth inning.
Ramirez recorded a leadoff single for the Rams in the first inning, but it was not until the fifth inning when they got their second hit of the game.
It was a Genther single to right center field that was immediately followed by a Billy Butler single. Later in the inning, Rob Butler followed it up with a single of his own that brought Genther home to make the score tied up 1-1.
The Rams grabbed the lead in the seventh inning after DePino’s second home run of the series, bringing the score to 2-1.
Levesque allowed the Bonnies to tie the game up in the latter half of the inning after throwing a wild pitch.
Rhode Island quickly answered in the next inning when Kopack hit a sacrifice fly to center field, letting Rob Butler tag up from third base and record a run to regain the lead at 3-2.
Coach Cerrato made the move to the bullpen after Levesque started the eighth inning giving up a walk and a home run to St. Bonaventure. With the score at 4-3, fifth-year Jon Morrison made his way to the mound and got the Rams out of the inning without surrendering any more runs.
“The bullpen came into some trouble and did their job,” said Ramirez. “It definitely translated into the lineup and got the boys fired up.”
Billy Butler was the first person to reach base for the Rams in the ninth inning off a single into shallow left field. McCall subsequently replaced Butler to run the base paths. Depino reached base again – this time on a walk. Stepping up to the plate with two outs in the inning, Rob Butler recorded an infield single to bring home the tying run and force extra innings.
Morrison continued his ninth inning performance into the tenth with a one-two-three inning.
In the top of the tenth inning with one out, Ramirez came up to bat for the Rams.
“My approach was just to get on base,” said Ramirez. “I wanted Addison to get up to do some damage.”
Ramirez got the job done himself, hitting a home run to center field to give the Rams a 5-4 lead.
Second-year Ryan Andrade got the ball for Rhode Island in the bottom of the and closed the game out with a strikeout and a walk that led to a double play.
Sunday’s matchup saw Rhode Island put up at least one run in each of the first three innings. Billy Butler recorded a two runs-batted-in (RBI) double in the first, Ramirez got an RBI single in the second, and the Rams scored two runs in the third off an RBI double from DePino and St. Bonnies walking in a run.
Rhode Island’s starting pitcher, first-year Braeden Perry, gave up a run in the first inning and then threw five scoreless innings.
The Rams tacked on another run in the eighth inning with an RBI single from Ramirez. He finished the series going 6-14 with 5 RBIs.
“[Ramirez] has honestly been excellent,” said Cerrato. “Not only is he getting hits, but he’s just giving us some really good at bats.”
First-year Brandon Hsu replaced Perry and put up two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Rhody’s offense continued to succeed in the ninth inning with Depino and Grotyohann both recording an RBI.
First-year Jeremy Urena closed the game out for Rhode Island and the Rams got the 8-1 victory.
In total, Rhode Island’s offense hung 22 runs on St. Bonnies and the bullpen didn’t allow a single run throughout the series.
Coach Cerrato had some takeaways for his team after the series was wrapped-up.
“We played well defensively,” said Cerrato. “I’m really happy with how we’re progressing. Offensively, one thing we have to be better at is batting with two strikes. We’re striking out a lot.”
Rhode Island is now looking forward to their next conference series opponent, Davidson.
“We’re in third place and a game behind them, so it’s a big series,” said Cerrato. “It’s why our guys come here. They wanna play in big series.”
The Rams take on the Wildcats in Kingston in the three-game series on April 21-23.