Rhode Island Lineup
Cucinotta (CF), Genther (DH), Kopack (SS), Laske (C), Ramirez (2B), Salgado (3B), Fortin (1B), McKenzie (RF), McCall (LF), Andrade (P)
 
Dayton Lineup
Jones (2B), Calero (3B), Pujols (1B), Strmecki (LF), Curtis (C), Neff (RF), Maloney (DH), Silverstein (CF), Daniels (SS), Steinhauer (P)
 
How it Happened
Rhode Island rallied its way back from a six-run deficit, but ultimately came up short as Dayton walked off with a 9-8 win in Friday's series opener.
 
The Rams had trailed 7-2 after two innings, but a huge performance from Ryan Twitchell allowed URI to get back in it. The fifth-year senior allowed just one run over 5.1 innings, relieving starter Ryan Andrade in the bottom of the second.
 
With Dayton up 8-2 after six innings, the Rams began chipping away with a three-run seventh. There, Alex Ramirez singled to left with two away, scoring Calvin McCall and Jack Cucinotta to make it 8-4. After a pitching change for the Flyers, Tino Salgado was walked to load the bases and Joe Fortin was hit by a pitch to push across Eric Genther and cut UD's lead to 8-5.
 
Twitchell sat the Flyers down in order in the bottom of the seventh, getting the Rams back to the plate where they eventually tied the score on a three-run homer by Addison Kopack. Dayton then loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth, but an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play kept the score even at eight apiece.
 
Rhody was unable to do any additional damage in the top of the ninth, and nearly forced extra innings as Sean Sposato fanned the first two hitters he faced in the bottom of the frame. However, a walk followed by a hit-by-pitch set up Ben Jones' walk-off RBI single.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island finished the game with eight hits – two each from grad student Jack Cucinotta, redshirt sophomore Addison Kopack, junior Alex Ramirez and grad student Joe Fortin.
• Cucinotta doubled twice, scored two runs and had one RBI.
• Kopack drove in three runs on his fourth homer of the season.
• Ramirez also had three RBI on the afternoon.
• Fortin singled, doubled, was hit by a pitch, scored once and drove in one run.
• Freshman Eric Genther was hit in three of his five plate appearances. He also scored three runs.
• Fifth-year senior Ryan Twitchell tossed 5.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on six hits. He struck out three and walked none.
• Redshirt sophomore Sean Sposato took the tough-luck loss, allowing the game-winning run with two away in the bottom of the ninth.

Up Next
Rhody and Dayton return to Woerner Field for a 1 p.m. game Saturday.