How it Happened

Rhode Island (2-6) came back from a 6-5 defeat in Game #1 and shut down Yale, 4-0, in the second half of a Sunday afternoon doubleheader at Bill Beck Field. The March 15th home opener marked the earliest date on record that the Rams have played a game in Kingston, R.I.

Game 1

Yale (4-4) jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning, thanks in part to a Rhode Island fielding error. Rhody got one back in the bottom of the frame however, as a sacrifice fly by Mike Corin drove in Tim Caputo, who had reached on a one-out walk.

The Bulldogs would make it a 4-1 game in the top of the third, but the Rams countered with a three-spot in their next trip to the plate to even things up at four apiece. Mike Sherburne got things darted with a one-out triple before crossing the plate on an RBI single by Caputo. Caputo then stole second and advanced to third on a base hit by Derek Gardella, before scoring again on another sac-fly by Corin. After stealing second, Gardella came around to score on a single to center by Chris Hess.

The teams traded runs again in the fifth, before Yale went on to score what proved to be the game-winning run with two away in the sixth.

Game 2

With another strong start from Tyler Wilson - who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning - Rhode Island got on the board in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Rhody scored once in each of the first four frames and didn't allow Yale to send more than four men to the plate in any inning.

Corin sparked the offense once again, collecting his third RBI of the day on a first-inning single that plated Sherburne. A pair of RBI groundouts by Jordan Powell and another by Martin Taveras allowed Caputo and Nick DeRegis (twice) to score the Rams' final three runs of the afternoon.

Inside the Box Scores

• Redshirt freshman Chris Hess led the Rams with a combined three hits on the day, including a double. He also had one RBI and a stolen base.
• Senior Tim Caputo scored four runs on one hit with three walks and three stolen bases. In the field, he had six assiss and three putouts and initiated two 6-4-3 double plays.
• Caputo is now 6-for-6 in stolen base sttempts and has reached base safely in each of URI's last seven games.
• Redshirt junior Derek Gardella and Nick DeRegis each had a pair of hits and a stolen base for Rhode Island. Gardella's stolen base was the first of his career while DeRegis collected his first of the season to go along with a pair of runs scored.
• Senior Mike Sherburne was a perfect 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts, taking third twice in game two. With a pair of runs scored, he now leads the team with seven on the season. 
• Freshman Tyler Wilson was lights out in his first-ever outing at URI's Bill Beck Field, recording a career-best 10 strikeouts over seven shutout innings. He did not allow a hit until the top of the sixth and never faced more than four hitters in a single inning.
• Redshirt senior Brendan Doonan, junior Brad Applin and sophomore Taso Stathopoulos combined for three innings of scoreless relief with just one hit allowed.
• Junior Lou Distasio took the loss in the first game, allowing three runs (two earned) over 6.0 innings of relief. He finished with five strikeouts and a career-best four assists.

Up Next
The Rams return to The Beck for a pair of midweek games against Brown (Tuesday) and Quinnipiac (Wednesday) before traveling to Saint Louis for their Atlantic 10 opener against the Billikens.