The University of Rhode Island baseball team opened conference play over the weekend with a series sweep against Virginia Commonwealth University before picking up a midweek win over Stonehill College on Wednesday.
VCU placed first in the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason poll but struggled in its non-conference schedule and carried a 4-11 record into the weekend. Rhode Island carried much more momentum into the matchup, coming off of a three-game sweep over Eastern Kentucky University and a win over in-state rival Bryant University.
“We played good baseball,” Rhode Island Head Coach Raphael Cerrato said. “All I’m looking for is to just be solid, get good at-bats and throw strikes.”
URI was able to hold onto Friday’s game with a 5-4 win over VCU. The team was powered early by fourth-years Anthony DePino and Eric Genther sending back-to-back pitches out of the yard.
Third-year starter Jeremy Urena gave up three runs across five innings, striking out three. Second-year closer Joe Sabbath shut the door in the ninth for his third save of the season, walking two batters but stranding both.
Rhode Island led big in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader with eight unanswered runs across the first three innings. Fourth-year outfielder Brody McKenzie drove in two runs in a 3-3 day at the plate.
Fifth-year Trystan Levesque got the start but couldn’t escape the fifth inning after having a strong first four. Levesque allowed five in the inning and was saved from any more scoring as third-year Braeden Perry got out of the jam, spinning a double play in relief.
Rhody’s offense added seven more runs while Perry contributed three scoreless innings. VCU brought a late push with six runs in the bottom of the ninth, but still came up short in a 15-11 loss.
The Rams capped off the doubleheader and the sweep with a 5-1 win. URI trailed for its only time in the series after first-year pitcher Jake Cullen allowed the first home run of his collegiate career to VCU first-year infielder Nick Flores in the second inning.
Cullen made his second start of the season after a strong five innings against Eastern Kentucky the week prior. It marks the first time since third-year Evan Maloney suffered a season-ending injury against Oregon on Feb. 22 that Rhode Island has had the same weekend rotation in back-to-back weeks.
“We had something different in mind to start the season, but some injuries prevented that from happening,” Cerrato said. “It’s good to have set guys.”
Across another five-inning start, Cullen allowed three hits and struck out three. Leadoff batters reached safely in four of his five innings, but Cullen was able to leave them stranded.
“Breathe, just breathe, stay focused and pound the zone; it’s all you can do,” Cullen said. “Trust the people behind you.”
A sacrifice fly by sixth-year DJ Perron gave URI the lead in the top of the fifth, then the bullpen provided four no-hit frames as the Rams strung along three more runs to close out the game.
Back home at Bill Beck Field on Wednesday, Rhode Island won its eighth straight with a 3-2 victory over Stonehill.
In a bullpen game, the pitching staff combined for a season-high 16 strikeouts as seven pitchers made an appearance.
“We’re starting to pitch better, which is what we need to do if we’re going to win a championship,” Cerrato said. “It wasn’t a great offensive day for us, at all. A lot of this year the offense has picked up the pitching; today, the pitching picked up the offense.”
Stonehill got one run across in the sixth, but left the bases loaded as first-year Nate Fletcher got a strikeout in relief to escape the jam.
Sabbath secured his fourth save in the ninth, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts.
“I have like a f— you mentality,” Sabbath said. “I always feel like I’m going to beat the batter with my stuff because I know the odds are actually in my favor.”
Following the week’s results, Rhode Island is tied at the top of the A-10 entering the weekend against George Washington University.
“We just have to be ready to play,” Cerrato said. “As cliche as that is, it’s just ‘play good baseball.’ I think with our talent, if we’re solid, we are really good.”
The Rams won’t have to travel outside of New England until the last week of April, playing four of their next five weekend series at home. It begins on Friday against the Revolutionaries at 3 p.m. with a radio broadcast on WRIU 90.3 FM. Saturday’s game will be broadcast on RIU2.org.
