The University of Rhode Island baseball team won one out of three games against Brown University over the weekend and won its home opener on Tuesday against the University of New Haven.
After a clean first inning during the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, third-year Joe Sabbath gave up a leadoff single to fourth-year Mark Henshon, followed by a two-run homer from second-year Christan Butera to give Brown a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, fourth-year Jack Hopko smacked an RBI base hit to right field to put the Rams on the board and make it a 2-1 game.
Rhode Island pulled Sabbath in the fifth inning after Brown extended their lead on a solo shot from second-year Alex Benevento.
Fourth-year Peter Dubie pitched a gem for Brown, going five innings with nine strikeouts and only allowing one run.
Fourth-year reliever Christan Keel struggled to close things out against Rhode Island, giving up three hits in the ninth, including an RBI double to third-year Reece Moroney to make it a one-score game. Fourth-year Will Hindle ended the rally, striking out in the next at bat, and the Bears were able to hang on in the first game, 3-2.
In the second game of the day, Rhode Island landed the first punch on a solo shot from Hopko in the second. The Rams then loaded the bases, and third-year Scott Penney came to the plate and ripped a three-run double down the line to put Rhode Island up 4-0.
Brown answered back on a three-run shot from second-year Jack Edmunds in the bottom half of the inning to make it a one-score game.
In the third inning with runners in scoring position, Henshon hit an RBI groundout to tie the game up at four.
In the fifth inning, Butera smacked an RBI triple down the line, putting Brown up 5-4. Second-year reliever Parker Aikens threw a wild pitch to the next batter, letting the Bears add another run to their advantage.
Brown added another run in the sixth on a bases-loaded hit by pitch as the Bears continued to stifle the Rams. Rhode Island was only able to muster one more run across, losing to the Bears 7-5 in seven innings.
In Sunday’s game, the Rams avoided yet another series sweep after losing three straight series to open the season.
Rhode Island started the game hot, hitting four straight singles to drive in two runs, giving the Rams a quick 2-0 lead. Fourth-year TJ Gormley then hit a two-run double to add to Rhode Island’s lead.
Brown responded in the bottom half. After loading the bases, the Bears battled back. The Rams got out of the inning, but the damage was already done, with the game tied at four.
Rhode Island and Brown went back and forth with the Rams adding two runs in the second and the Bears adding a run of their own to keep up with Rhode Island’s pace.
The Rams opened up the door in the fourth inning, starting with a leadoff homer from fourth-year Ryan Henschel to extend the lead to 7-5. Later that inning, Hopko blasted a three-run shot to give the Rams breathing room, up 10-5.
The Bears continued to fight back, adding two more runs in the fourth. Rhode Island added two runs in the fifth, and poured it on in the sixth when Henschel hit a grand slam, his second homer of the game, putting the Rams in a commanding 16-7 lead.
Rhode Island’s offense scored three more runs and held Brown to just two more runs in the game, giving the Rams their long-awaited first win of the season, 19-9.
“In the first two games against Brown, we were not super confident,” URI Head Coach Raphael Cerrato said. “We needed to relax a little bit and figure ourselves out.”
In Tuesday’s game against New Haven, it was all Rhode Island as the Rams were led by Henschel again, who hit a grand slam as part of a five-run sixth.
“We just have to stick with the approach,” Henschel said. “We know we’re a good team and we’re going to get some wins.”
Rhode Island had nine pitchers come into the game and shut things down as the Rams blanked the Chargers 11-0.
“Those guys have good stuff,” Cerrato said. “They just have to be able to trust themselves.”
Rhode Island looks to ride this winning streak into Washington, D.C., as the Rams start conference play with a three-game set starting Friday against George Washington University.
“We are starting to feel good, and we are feeling better offensively,” Cerrato said. “It’s important, especially as we head into conference season.”
Friday’s game is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch and is the only game scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ in the series.
