Rhode Island Starters
Hess (2B), Figueroa (DH), Powell (CF), Ulliana (C), Corin (3B), McManus (1B), Ilario (LF), Hill (SS), Foley (RF), Wilson (P)

Missouri State Starters
Steinmetz (CF), Jefferson (LF), Burger (3B), Airman (SS), Meyer (2B), Paulsen (1B), Brown (DH), Graham (RF), Geha (C), Still (P)

How it Happened
Rhode Island (0-1) got off to a shaky start as junior starter Tyler Wilson issued four consecutive one-out walks in the bottom of the first, setting up a bases-clearing double by MSU's Justin Paulsen. The Bears (2-0) then tacked on another run in the bottom of the second to take a 5-0 lead.

The Rams got on the board in the top of the third when Sonny Ulliana singled through the left side to score Martin Figueroa from second base. The game remained locked at 5-1 thanks to the efforts of reliever Mark Silvestri, who replaced Wilson in the second and allowed just one hit over three and a third scoreless innings.

With Silvestri out of the game in the sixth however, the Bears put up another four spot to push their lead to 9-1.

From there, the skies opened up and sustained rainfall eventually resulted in the game's suspension in the bottom of the seventh inning.

When play resumed on Saturday evening, the Bears added another run in the seventh and two more in the eighth for the eventual 12-1 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Sophomore Mark Silvestri tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless relief for the Rams, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair.
• Junior Tyler Wilson turned in an uncharacteristic start, issuing six walks and allowing five runs - all earned - before being replaced after just 1.2 innings. He struck out two and allowed just one hit, which was a three-run double in the bottom of the first inning.
• Freshmen Nick Robinson and Connor Romano both made their collegiate pitching debuts in the season opener. Robinson gave up four runs on four hits and a walk in the sixth inning. Romano faced on batter in the seventh, before the game was suspended.
• Four other Rams made their debuts as well - freshmen catchers Sonny Ulliana and Kyle Beaulieu, freshman infielder Alex Santos at first base, and redshirt freshman Justin Jewell as a pinch hitter.
• Santos and Cavaliere both singled in their only at-bats.
• Redshirt junior Chris Hess led the Rams' offense, going 2-for-4 against the Bears.
• Freshman Sonny Ulliana - who earned the start behind the dish in his first career game - was 1-for-3 and drove in Rhody's lone run of the game.
• Senior Martin Figueroa score the Rams' only run, crossing the plate on Ulliana's single after drawing a walk in the top of the third.
• Junior Mike Foley and redshirt sophomore Sam Ilario each singled in the loss. Foley also had the game's only stolen base.

Up Next
Rhode Island remains at Joe Miller Ballpark to take on McNeese State at 7 p.m. (ET).