Rhode Island Lineup
White (CF), Mircovich (LF), Brodeur (2B), Vargas (1B), Coley (RF), Fortin (3B), Ulliana (C), Kopack (DH), Salgado (SS), Webb (P)
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East Carolina Lineup
Worrell (CF), Hoover (LF), Caddell (C), Francisco (1B), Agnos (3B), Norby (2B), Johnson (RF), Makarewicz (DH), Giles (SS), Kuchmaner (P)
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How it Happened
East Carolina (2-0) scored a pair of runs in the first inning and maintained its lead throughout to defeat Rhode Island 7-1 Saturday afternoon.
With two outs and Bryson Worrell on second base, T Francisco delivered a single through the left side to get the Pirates on the board. After a walk moved Francisco into scoring position, C Norby drove him in with a single.
That provided all the support preseason All-American Jake Kuchmaner (1-0) needed. He hurled 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just two hits and no walks. Kuchmaner also struck out three Rams.
Trailing 3-0, Rhode Island (0-2) broke through with a run in the top of the sixth inning.
Austin White reached on a bunt single and wound up on second base thanks to an error.
Max Mircovich followed with a fly ball to right center, allowing White to tag up. A throwing error allowed him to come home, making the score 3-1.
However, ECU responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth and three more in the seventh to stretch the lead to six runs and put the game away.
Inside the Box Score
- Redshirt senior Sonny Ulliana had a pair of singles in three trips to the plate.
- Junior Austin White had a hit and scored a run for the second game in a row.
- Junior Mark Coley had a single.
- As a team, the Rams were 4-for-30 with one walk. URI was retired in order four times.
- Graduate senior Mike Webb (0-1) made his debut on the mound, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits. He also struck out three batters.
- Redshirt freshman Quincy Clark gave the Rams a 1-2-3 inning of relief, striking out one batter and inducing a pair of groundouts.
Up Next
The Rams and Pirates finish their three-game series Sunday with a game at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Vitaly Jangols takes the hill for Rhode Island against ECU's Carson Whisenhunt.
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