Box Score Rhode Island Lineup
White (CF), Brodeur (2B), Ulliana (C), Vargas (1B), Kopack (DH), Fortin (3B), McCall (LF), Ramirez (SS), Coley (RF), Twitchell (P)
 
Arizona State Lineup
Swift (SS), Jump (LF), McLain (2B), Long (DH), Moss (1B), Haas (3B), Murphy (RF), Ferri (C), Lampe (3B), Peery (P)
 
How it Happened
A hot start and late burst were not enough as Rhode Island fell at Arizona State, 9-6, in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.
 
Rhode Island (17-17-1) pieced together a two-run rally in the top of the first inning. Austin White led off the game with an infield single. Sonny Ulliana singled one out later, and both runners advanced on a balk. Xavier Vargas singled to center to drive in White with the first run of the game. A walk to Addison Kopack loaded the bases before Joe Fortin was hit by a pitch to force Ulliana home, making the score 2-0 URI.

Arizona State (23-14) got one back in the bottom of the first. Drew Swift walked, stole second and moved to third on a hit by Hunter Jump. A sacrifice fly from Sean McLain drove Swift in to get ASU on the board.

The Sun Devils struck for three unearned runs in the next inning. Two errors and a wild pitched led to the three runs, all of which scored with two outs. Kai Murphy reached on an infield error with one out, and he advanced on a two-out single by Joe Lampe. A wild pitch led to runners on the corners before back-to-back singles from Swift and Jump each resulted in one run scoring, putting Arizona State up 3-2. An error on a pickoff attempt allowed Swift to score the third run of the inning.
 
ASU's lead increased to 5-2 in the third when reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week Ethan Long started the inning with a solo home run, his fifth in five games. Long later added a second solo shot that put the Sun Devils up 7-2. Rhode Island was unable to put any more runs on the board.

Rhody trailed 9-2 heading to the ninth, but the Rams went down swinging. Mark Coley and Jordan Laske were each by a pitch before Vargas launched a three-run home run to right field. Billy Butler folllowed with a solo shot to left center to make 9-6. After a single by Fortin, Calvin McCall appeared to be hit by a pitch that also should have been ball four to bring the tying run to the plate. It what can only be described as a questionable call at best, the home plate umpire called McCall out for leaning into the pitch, ending the game and the rally.

Inside the Box Score

• Austin White single and run scored.
• Sonny Ulliana two singles and one run scored.
• Xavier Vargas homered, singled and drove in four runs.
• Joe Fortin singled, walked, was hit by a pitch and had one RBI.
• Josh Brodeur singled twice and stole a base.
• Billy Butler appeared as a pinch hitter late, but finished with two hits. He singled in his first at bat then hit his first career homer in the ninth inning.
• Vitaly Jangols gave Rhode Island a solid outing out of the bullpen, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing one run on two hits. He struck out four batters.

Up Next
Rhode Island and Arizona State for a three-game series that begins Friday, April 30.