Kingston, R.I. – Rhode Island's Taso Stathopoulos and Nick Johnson combined to toss a one-hitter, while Mike Corin and Martin Figueroa both homered, as URI defeated the Fordham Rams, 7-2, at Bill Beck Field in Kingston, R.I.
With the loss, Fordham is now 18-20 overall, 7-8 in the Atlantic 10, while Rhode Island improved to 23-16 on the year, 11-4 in the league.
Rhode Island jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning, scoring four times off Fordham starter
Mike Cowell. With two out, Chris Hess doubled and came home on a double by Matt O'Neil. Mike Corin followed with a two-run home run to left center, making it a 3-0 score. Martin Figueroa then went back-to-back with a solo home to right center.
URI added to the lead, scoring twice in the fourth on a two-run single by Hess and once in the fifth on a Fordham error for a 7-0 lead.
Rhode Island starter Taso Stathopoulos kept the Fordham hitters off balance, holding the Rams to no hits over the first six innings. URI then went to the bullpen, where Fordham finally got on the board and broke up the no-hitter in the seventh. Reliever Nick Johnson walked
Matthew Kozuch to start the inning and after a pair of outs,
Luke Stampfl connected on a two-run home run to left, his fourth of the season.
Luke Stampfl hit his fourth home run on Friday.
That was all Fordham could muster, as Stathopoulos and Johnson combined for the one-hitter, totaling seven strikeouts.
Mike Cowell (0-4) took the loss for Fordham, allowing four runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Brandon Martin threw 3.1 innings of relief, giving up two runs on four hits, while
Brian Weissert,
David Wright, Marc Bisgono, and
Alex Hladik each threw one inning.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 1:00 PM.
