The University of Rhode Island baseball team took a lead into the eighth inning of all four of its games this week, but could only muster one win alongside a trio of one-run losses.
Riding an eight-game winning streak, the sky seemed to be the limit as Rhode Island opened its first home series of the season against George Washington University. Friday got the team off on the right foot, picking up an 8-2 win over the Revolutionaries.
Third-year starter Jeremy Urena got the ball and delivered the first complete game for the Rams in nearly three years. Needing just 93 pitches, Urena efficiently worked his way through the game as he tallied seven 1-2-3 innings.
“I just tried to go out there and pound the strike zone,” Urena said. “The sinker was working really good, and I just had to trust the defense behind me.”
Aside from the ninth, the only inning Urena didn’t sit GW down in order was the second. He ran into some trouble, allowing his only runs of the game on an RBI triple and a successful safety squeeze from the next batter.
Rhode Island’s offense tied the game with a run in each of the third and fourth innings, then took the lead in the fifth. Third-year Jack Hopko singled to score the go-ahead run as the Rams exited the frame with a three-run lead.
“It’s a confidence booster out there that I know my offense [has] got me every time,” Urena said. “Pitching with a lead, as well, is really helpful.”
URI added another three runs in the eighth to put the game well out of reach. Urena allowed just his fourth hit of the game in the ninth with two outs, but stranded the runner with a groundout to finish the game.
Rhody remains undefeated in games that Urena starts; the Friday starter has continued to be a reliable option to open weekends on the right foot.
“I don’t really think of it as a ‘Friday guy,’” Urena said. “I just think of it as, ‘just be a pitcher out there, just do what you do best and try to get the batter out in four pitches or less every time.’”
The first two blown saves of the year from second-year closer Joe Sabbath turned a potential series sweep into a series loss. Saturday saw the Rams in front 7-2 after five innings, but they ultimately allowed six unanswered runs across the final four innings.
Fifth-year Trystan Levesque gave five innings, allowing two runs. However, turning it over to the bullpen brought the Revolutionaries back into the game.
Leading 7-6, Sabbath entered with two outs in the eighth and stranded the tying run. As he returned for the ninth, the heart of George Washington’s order strung together three straight hits to take the lead.
It was deja vu for Rhode Island in the rubber match on Sunday as a 9-6 lead became a 10-9 loss in the ninth. Sabbath entered the final inning with two outs and the bases loaded. Second-year catcher Jude Clough was down to GW’s final strike, fouling off four of the next six pitches before driving a bases-clearing and lead-taking double into the gap.
The Rams had trailed 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh, but rallied to score five in the inning to take a three-run lead. Fourth-year outfielder Brody McKenzie drove in two with a single for his second hit of the game, and fourth-year captain Anthony DePino did the rest with a three-run homer.
Despite considering himself a defensive-first player, McKenzie took advantage of his opportunity with a string of hits that brought his batting average from .100 to a peak of .320 after Sunday.
“It feels great,” McKenzie said. “I’ve never really had that happen in my career at URI, so being able for that to happen is awesome.”
Tuesday’s game looked like a chance to flip the Rams’ misfortune against Quinnipiac University, a program that had just six wins over URI in 26 matchups.
Second-year Josh Kopetski got through four scoreless innings for the Rams before running into trouble in the fifth. Holding a four-run lead, Rhode Island allowed the Bobcats to tie the game, then fifth-year Sebastian Mueller homered to give Quinnipiac the lead in the sixth.
A four-run seventh put Rhody ahead by three, but Quinnipiac responded with four runs of its own in the eighth. The Rams left two runners on base in the ninth, falling 9-8.
Looking to get back on track, Rhode Island travels to the University of Massachusetts over the weekend for the last time in conference play, with the Minutemen moving to the Mid-American Conference next season. The three-game series will broadcast on ESPN+, with Friday’s game scheduled for 3 p.m.
