Rhode Island Lineup
White (CF), Brodeur (2B), Ulliana (C), Vargas (1B), Butler (DH), Fortin (3B), Coley (RF), Ramirez (SS), Mircovich (LF), Twitchell (P)
 
Massachusetts Lineup
Shapiro (LF), Skagerlind (RF), Rounds (DH), Gervasi (C), Luttazi (1B), Pearsons (C), Petrucci (3B), Tichy (2B), Coleman (CF), Given (P)

How it Happened
Rhode Island took full advantage of first-inning wildness, scoring seven runs on just one hit to set the tone early for a 17-6 win in the opener of a four-game series at Massachusetts Thursday.

In the top of the first, Josh Brodeur reached on an error and found himself on third base with two down when a walk-a-thon began. Rhode Island (24-24-1, 11-6 Atlantic 10) drew five consecutive walks, which forced in the first three runs of the day. Max Mircovich made the first hit of the game a big one, as his inside-the-park grand slam made the score 7-0.

 Massachusetts (13-27, 3-14 A-10) got single runs in the second and third innings to cut into the lead. However, Rhody struck for three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to extend the lead to 12-2.

UMass kept a semblance of intrigue in the contest with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. However, Rhode Island piled on five runs in the top of the eighth to get the lead back to double digits, 17-6.

The game was called after eight innings.

Inside the Box Score

• The race for the two playoff spots in the Atlantic 10 North tightened up after Friday's action. First-place La Salle (15-6) lost to third-place Saint Joseph's (12-9). Fourth-place Fordham (9-8) also won to stay alive.
• Rhode Island (11-6) can clinch a postseason spot with two wins Friday.
• The Rams drew 10 walks and was hit by a pitch four times.
• Of the 17 runs for Rhode Island, 12 were unearned.
• Max Mircovich had an inside-the-park grand slam, two walks, was hit by a pitch and scored two runs.
• Billy Butler continued to provide production in the middle of the lineup. He had three hits, including a double. Butler also drove in three runs and scored twice.
• Mark Coley also had three hits, getting two doubles, one walk, three RBI and three runs scored.
• Xavier Vargas doubled, walked and scored three times.
• In his first four plate appearances, Joe Fortin walked three times, was hit by a pitch and scored twice.
• Todd Moxey gave the Rams 3.0 innings of scoreless relief. He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Moxey recorded a 1-2-3 inning on just four pitches.
• Of the 10 hits for UMass, only one was for extra bases.

Up Next
Rhode Island and Massachusetts are back in action with a doubleheader Friday. The first game begins at noon.