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

McNeese State Starters
Podorsky (RF), Duhon (C), Ramirez (CF), Gallier (DH), Provenzano (2B), Selman (LF), Fisbeck (3B), Fox (SS), Rogers (1B), Deaton (P)

How it Happened
McNeese State (2-0) jumped out to an early lead, scoring on a wild pitch in the first inning to go up 1-0.

Rhode Island (0-2) stranded six runners through the first four frames - four of which were in scoring position - before finally getting on the board in the the top of the fifth. There, Chris Hess tripled to start a two-out rally and Martin Figueroa was hit by a pitch before Sonny Ulliana plated both with a stand-up triple to centerfield. 

The Rams held on to the 2-1 lead through the sixth inning as starter Nick Johnson retired the Cowboys in order in the second, third, fourth and fifth. McNeese managed to put its leadoff man on in the sixth - via hit-by-pitch - but a groundout and a pair of strikeouts quickly ended the threat.

With Johnson out of the game in the top of the seventh, the Cowboys followed a leadoff walk with a single and then used a three-run homer by Nate Fisbeck to take back the lead at 4-2.

The Rams came back and evened it up in the bottom of the ninth, however. With two away and a full count, Ulliana roped an RBI single into right field to score Jordan Powell and make it 4-3. Mike Corin then shot the first pitch he saw back up the middle to plate Figueroa and knot the game at four apiece.

Rhody stranded the go-ahead run on third, however, and McNeese came back and won it with a bases-loaded sacrifice-fly in the bottom of the ninth.

Inside the Box Score

• In his first career start for the Rams, junior Nick Johnson recorded a career high 10 strikeouts over six no-hit innings. He walked two and allowed just one run in the no-decision start.
• Johnson retired 12 consecutive hitters from the second inning through the fifth.
• Rhode Island outhit McNeese 11-4. The Cowboys did not record their first hit until the bottom of the seventh.
• Freshman Sonny Ulliana went 3-for-5 with three RBI and his first career triple. Through the first two games of the season, he has driven in four of Rhode Island's five runs.
• Redshirt senior Mike Corin recorded a pair of hits and the game-tying RBI in the ninth inning. He also reached once via walk.
• Redshirt sophomore Sam Ilario also had a pair of hits for the Rams as well as a stolen base.
• Redshirt junior Chris Hess went 1-for-3 with a walk. His fifth-inning triple was the 17th of his career, giving him sole possession of Rhode Island's all-time triples record.
• Senior Martin Figueroa went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. He also reached twice via hit-by-pitch.
• Redshirt sophomore Cam LaFleur was charged with the loss in his Rhode Island debut. He tossed a scoreless eighth, but was charged with McNeese's game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Up Next
Rhode Island closes out play at the Lake Area Classic tomorrow when it takes on Stony Brook at Noon (ET).