Rhode Island Starters
Moroney (SS), Perron (1B), Anderson (DH), Genther (RF), DePino (3B), Hopko (LF), Levin (CF), Borrelli (C) Penney (2B), Morris (P)
Virginia Tech Starters
Martin (2B), DeMartini (3B), Cannizzaro (LF), Michel (1B), Micheletti Jr. (DH), Tackett (RF), Watson (CF), Cooke (C), Grady (SS), Renfrow (P)
How it Happened
Rhode Island was overpowered by Virginia Tech in its series-opener in Blacksburg, losing 18-3 on Friday night at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
The Rams (1-3) put up three runs early and were then cold the rest of the game as the Hokies (3-2) cruised to the win, scoring in all but one inning.
Anthony DePino drove in the first score when he plated
Reece Moroney with an RBI single in the top of the first but Virginia Tech answered right away with a sac fly, an RBI double and a two-run homer to take a 6-1 lead. Though URI responded in the following inning when
DJ Perron cranked out a two-RBI single, it was the closest that the team got.
Rhody used six different arms to get through the game, all of which were tagged with at least one earned run.
Zach Morris (0-1), who pitched the first inning, was handed the loss.
Inside the Box Score
- All six of Rhode Island's hits came from freshman Reece Moroney, junior Anthony DePino and graduate student DJ Perron. They each had two apiece.
- Perron was credited with two RBI while DePino had one.
- Moroney crossed home plate twice while freshman Scott Penney accounted for Rhody's third run.
- Redshirt freshman Will Hindle entered the game as a defensive replacement out in left field and drew a walk in his lone plate appearance.
- Freshman Frank Kula made his URI debut, entering the game at second base in the middle of the sixth inning.
- It was the first career start for freshman Zach Morris.
- Freshmen Josh Kopetski (1.1 IP) and Joe Sabbath (1.0) made their first collegiate appearances out of the bullpen.
Up Next
The series will continue with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, Feb. 24.
