Rhode Island Lineup
Cucinotta (CF), Ramirez (2B), Kopack (SS), Genther (LF),DePino (3B), Fortin (1B), Laske (C), R. Butler (DH), McKenzie (RF), Picone (P)
 
St. Bonaventure Lineup
Berger (CF), Myers (SS), Williams (1B), Grilli (2B), Boldt (RF), DeJohn (C), Manion (DH), Nucci (LF), Hendershot (3B), Devine (P)
 
How it Happened
Domenic Picone put together another stellar outing on the mound, and the Rams gave him plenty of run support in 9-3 victory over St. Bonaventure Saturday afternoon. Picone retired each of the first 12 hitters he faced and fired five 1-2-3 innings overall. Rhode Island did all of its scoring with Picone in the game, as the Rams led 9-1 after seven inning of play.
 
Rhody first got on the board in the bottom of the second when a bases-loaded walk to Brody McKenzie sent home Eric Genther for the early advantage. The following inning, the Rams used a two-out rally to push across two more runs. Genther got things started with a two-out triple and Anthony DePino followed with an RBI double down the left field line. Joe Fortin then singled to right to score DePino and put the Rams on top 3-0.
 
McKenzie walked again in the bottom of the fourth, and came around to score on a base hit by Alex Ramirez. Jack Cucinotta later crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by Genther to make it a 5-0 game.
 
The Bonnies got their first base-runner in the top of the fifth, when Thomas Grilli drew a leadoff walk. He eventually scored on a Jackson DeJohn groundout, cutting Rhody's lead to 5-1.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Cucinotta lifted the first pitch he saw out over the wall in centerfield for his third home run of the season. A pair of walks to Ramirez and Addison Kopack, followed by a Genther single, loaded the bases for Fortin, whose 4-6 fielder's choice ball drove in Ramirez and gave Rhody a 7-1 advantage. Jordan Laske then doubled to right center to score Kopack and put the Rams on top 8-1.
 
Cucinotta recorded URI's final run in the bottom of the seventh, scoring on a wild pitch after being hit by a pitch, stealing second, and advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ramirez.
 
The Bonnies used a pair of hits and one walk to score twice in the top of the ninth, but the comeback attempt fell short as Rhody held on for the 9-3 victory.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Junior Domenic Picone picked up the win – his second of the season – in another impressive 7.0-inning outing. The Rhody righty allowed just one run on three hits while striking out nine.
• Freshman Bryan Kraus tossed a scoreless eighth inning for the Rams.
• Freshman Eric Genther went 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and one RBI.
• Grad student Joe Fortin went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
• Redshirt sophomore Addison Kopack and freshman Brody McKenzie each walked three times and scored once. McKenzie also had one RBI.
• Grad student Jack Cucinotta belted his third homer of the season. He also was hit once, had one walk, one stolen base and three runs scored.
• Freshman Anthony DePino singled, doubled, scored once and drove in a run.
• Grad student Jordan Laske doubled, walked and drove in a run.
• Junior Alex Ramirez singled, walked, score a run and had one RBI.

Up Next
The Rams and Bonnies return to the Beck to close out the series at Noon on Sunday.