Baseball Edged by URI, 5-4

Bronx, N.Y. – (April 6, 2023) – Rhode Island hit three home runs on the day, while Sean Sposato allowed just two hits over 6.1 innings of work, as URI outlasted the Fordham Rams, 5-4, at Houlihan Park to open their Atlantic 10 series on Thursday.
 
Rhode Island opened the scoring in the third inning, when Addison Kopack hit a two-run home run to center, his fourth of the season.
 
URI added three more runs with the long ball in the fourth inning for a 5-0 lead.  Anthony DePino led off the inning with a solo home run to center, his fifth of the year, while later in the frame, Alex Ramirez connected on a two-run home run to right, his third of the year.
 
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh, when Fordham rallied back into the game.  Will Findlay led off with a walk followed by a single by Zach Selinger.  After a sacrifice, Michael Taylor plated Findlay with a sacrifice fly to left.  Pinch-hitter Jack Vallario then reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners.  Ryan Thiesse continued the inning with an RBI-single to center, scoring Selinger with Vallario moving to second.  Tommy McAndrews was the next batter, as he doubled down the left field line to score both Vallario and Thiesse to make it, 5-4.
 
However, the rally stopped there as reliever Zach Fernandez got Daniel Bucciero on a check swing strikeout to keep URI ahead.  Ryan Andrade came on for the final two innings and was able to record the final six outs for Rhode Island, registering his fourth save of the season.
 
Sean Sposato earned the win for URI, allowing just two hits over 6.1 innings of work with four strikeouts.
 
Fordham struggled at the plate for the second straight contest, registering only five hits.  Declan Lavelle (0-3) took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits over 3.2 innings of work.  Reliever Nolan Hughes had an impressive outing in relief, striking out seven batters of 4.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits.
 
Game two of the series is set for 11:00 AM on Friday with the game being broadcast on MSG and ESPN+.