Rhode Island Lineup
Brodeur (LF), Fortin (2B), Coutts (DH), Vargas (1B), Coley (RF), White (CF), Ulliana (C), Ramirez (SS), Salgado (3B), Fernandez (P)

Central Michigan Lineup
Heeke (3B), Warren (SS), Gilles (CF), Lockwood-Powell (1B), Rollin (RF), Z. Lechnir (2B), Navarra (DH), Dardas (C), D. Lechnir (LF), Taylor (P)

How it Happened
Rhode Island picked up its sixth win over a nationally-ranked team under head coach Raphael Cerrato, knocking off #27 Central Michigan Friday night at the University of Arizona. The Rams combined for a season-high 13 hits - including three doubles and one home run - while limiting the Chippewas to just six singles and one double.

CMU (6-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but Rhody responded in the bottom of the frame, evening the score on a Jackson Coutts single that drove in Josh Brodeur.

The Rams (3-4) then erupted for six more runs in the bottom of the second. Brodeur got things started with a two-run single that plated Alex Ramirez and Tino Salgado. Brodeur later scored on an RBI single by Joe Fortin to make it a 4-1 game. Xavier Vargas kept things rolling with a two-out single and Mark Coley was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Austin White. White then drilled a bases-clearing double into right centerfield to give the Rams a 7-1 advantage.

Coley's first home run of the season extended Rhode Island's lead to 8-1 two innings later, in the bottom of the fourth.

Meanwhile Nick Robinson - who relieved starter Zach Fernandez in the top of the fourth - kept the Chippewas in check at the plate. He faced just one over the minimum through the seventh inning, before CMU eventually pushed across a run on an eighth-inning sac fly.

Rhody got it back in the bottom of the inning however, as a pinch-hit single from Max Mircovich plated Brodeur for the 9-2 Rams lead.

Central Michigan threatened in the top of the ninth, advancing runners to second and third with two away, but that was as close as things got as a foul-out to shortstop Alex Ramirez ended the game.

Inside the Box Score

• Redshirt junior Josh Brodeur went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, two RBI and one stolen base. He also reached base once via hit-by-pitch.
• Junior Xavier Vargas singled twice and scored a run.
• Junior Jackson Coutts had two base hits and one RBI.
• Junior Austin White doubled, was hit by a pitch and drove in three runs.
• Sophomore Mark Coley crossed the plate twice and hit his first homer of the season.
• Freshman Tino Salgado doubled and scored a run.
• Redshirt sophomore Joe Fortin had an RBI single and scored one run.
• Redshirt junior Max Mircovich hit an RBI single in a pinch-hit at-bat.
• Senior Nick Robinson earned his first win of the season for the Rams. Through six innings of relief work, he gave up just one run and allowed only five hits.
• Freshman starter Zach Fernandez allowed just two hits over three innings. The lone run the Chippewas scored off him was unearned.

Up Next
The Rams return to Hi Corbett Field for two games on Saturday. Rhody will face #27 Central Michigan again at Noon (Eastern) before taking on #25 Arizona at 8 p.m. (Eastern).