The University of Rhode Island baseball team won two out of three games over the weekend against Saint Louis University and took a midweek win against the University of New Haven on Tuesday.
In the series opener, the Billikens struck first on an RBI double by third-year Joey Canzoni, then scored another run on a sacrifice fly by third-year Krew Bond to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Rams answered back in the third inning with an RBI single from third-year Reece Moroney and then a three-run home run from fourth-year Jack Hopko to put Rhode Island up 4-2.
Second-year Danny Leikus hit a solo shot in the fourth inning to push the lead up to 5-2.
In the sixth inning, Leikus added on again with an RBI single to make it 6-2, and Rhode Island added two more on an RBI groundout from third-year Scott Penney and another RBI single from Moroney to make it 8-2.
In the eighth inning, fourth-year Ryan Henschel hit a solo blast, and in the ninth inning, fifth-year Ryan King smashed a three-run shot, which would be the dagger in the Rams’ 12-2 win.
In Saturday’s game, Saint Louis led 4-0 through the first four innings on an RBI lineout from second-year Hank Gomric, an RBI fielder’s choice from Bond and a two-RBI double from second-year Ahmaad Duff.
The Rams finally scored in the fifth inning on a double play that plated Leikus to make it 4-1.
Third-year Riley Iffrig homered to add on to the Billikens’ lead to 5-1.
King hit an RBI single in the sixth inning to give Rhode Island a second run.
Saint Louis blew the game open in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four more runs, including a two-RBI double from Gormic and another RBI double from fourth-year Chase Beattie to make it a commanding 9-2 lead.
The Rams cut the lead back to four in the seventh inning on an RBI double from Penney and an RBI single from second-year Ryan Thompson.
The Billikens scored two more in the eighth inning on an RBI lineout from Canzoni, and Bond drove in Beattie on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded to make it 11-5.
Rhode Island tried to rally in the ninth inning, scoring two runs, but a flyout ended the rally to give Saint Louis the 11-7 win.
In the series finale on Sunday, both teams looked to take the series with the Rams answering first on an RBI groundout from second-year Brian Connolly. The Billkens responded with an RBI groundout from Duff.
Thompson helped Rhode Island regain the lead with an RBI single, and then Leikus had a sac fly to put Rhody up 3-1.
Saint Louis responded with a run in the third inning and two runs in the fourth inning on an RBI double from Penney and an RBI single from third-year Riley Iffrig to take a 4-3 lead.
The Rams continued to counter the Billikens, answering right back on an RBI base hit from King to tie the game up at four. In the sixth inning, Penney smacked a double to put Rhode Island back in the driver’s seat, up 5-4.
In the bottom half of the sixth inning, first-year Drew Kleinheider scored on an RBI groundout to first from Iffrig.
The game remained scoreless for the next six innings until Connolly hit a two-RBI double in the 12th inning to give the Rams a 7-5 lead.
The Billikens loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning, but Gormic popped out with two outs to end the game, giving Rhode Island the series.
“Game three was the biggest game of our season to this point,” URI head coach Raphael Cerrato said. “Being able to win in extra innings and our guys showing up was a big confidence builder for this weekend.”
In Tuesday’s matchup, the Rams jumped on the Chargers in the first inning, getting an RBI from Moroney and a sac fly from Hopko to take a 2-0 lead.
New Haven answered back in the second inning, after fourth-year Aedan Forde hit a single to put runners on the corners, a balk was called that scored first-year Bobby Herzman. Later in the inning, Forde came around to score, tying the game at two. The Chargers were not done as third-year Shaun Callahan hit an RBI single to put them up 3-2.
Thompson hit an RBI single in the third inning to tie the game up for Rhody.
The Rams had a massive fourth inning, getting contributions from Penney, who cleared the bases on a double, and Moroney, who had an RBI single as part of a five-run inning to take an 8-3 lead.
In the fifth inning, Moroney had his fourth RBI of the day on another RBI single, and Hopko hit a three-run home run to put Rhody up by 10.
“Reece has been very good all season,” Cerrato said. “He has been pretty consistent hitting in the middle of the order and has been vital to our team.”
That’s all the Rams would need as they hung on to beat New Haven 13-3. Rhode Island was scheduled to play a game on Wednesday against Brown University that ended up getting canceled.
Next up, Rhode Island will play a three-game set at Bill Beck Field against Fordham University over the weekend.
