March 31, 2009

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Rhode Island softball team (7-20; 1-3 Atlantic 10) fell twice to Brown on the road Tuesday afternoon at the Erickson Athletic Complex, losing 4-3 in game one and 3-1 in game two.

Sophomore Amanda Sbei (Collegeville, Pa.) led the way offensively for the Rams as she drove in all four runs, going 3-for-4 in the two games.

Freshman Alison Hatzell (Easton, Pa.) took the loss for the Rams in game one as she went 6.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits to fall to 5-7 on the year.

The Bears opened the scoring in the first inning as they plated three runs to take the early lead. Brown starter Trish Melvin held Rhody scoreless through six innings. URI threatened in the fourth as it loaded the bases with two outs, but the Rams were unable capitalize.

In the seventh, Rhody scored three runs following a two out pinch-hit double by Sbei, which scored senior Stefani Poedubicky (Wrightstown, N.J.), freshman Brittany Julich (Kings Park, N.Y.) and freshman Tekesha Rhodes (Providence, R.I.). Sbei's three-run double were her first three RBIs on the year.

Freshman Courtney Prendergastt (Babylon, N.Y.) came up next and popped up to first, which ended the game.

In game two, Rhody took a 1-0 lead in the third inning thanks to another RBI single by Sbei as she drove in Poedubicky from third. Poedubicky got on base thanks to a leadoff single. In that same inning, URI loaded the bases with one out, but the Rams were unable to score any additional runs.

Brown responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame to tie the game at one run apiece. The Bears then took the lead in the fourth as they scored a pair of runs in the fourth.

Rhody threatened in the fifth as it put runners on second and third with just one out and junior Leah DiBussolo (East Norriton, Pa.) at the plate. This season, DiBussolo has driven in six runs and for a second it appeared as if she would have RBIs seven and eight, but Brown third baseman Kate Strobel caught a line drive headed for left field, which robbed the URI first baseman of a base hit.

Junior MaryBeth Ball (Clinton, Mass.) came up next and popped up to third to end the URI scoring threat.

Sophomore starter Stacey Stanovich (Northbridge, Mass.) took the loss after she allowed three runs on eight hits.

Rhody returns to action on Thursday as it heads to Harvard for a doubleheader. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m.