Rhode Island Starters (15-24)
Penney (2B), Moroney (SS), Thompson (1B), Hopko (RF), King (3B), Botti (LF), Leikus (C), Henschel (CF), Tolentino (DH), Kopetski (P)
Connecticut Starters (22-20)
Belisario (CF), Righi (RF), Marshall (1B), Wachter (LF), Dalena (3B), Polemeni (DH), Tirado (C), Rispoli (SS), Menzel (2B), Hale (P)
How it Happened
Rhode Island's offense struggled as the Rams fell 9-5 to Connecticut on Tuesday night at Dunkin' Park in Hartford, Conn. The Rams were held to five hits against the Huskies' pitching.Â
Rhode Island jumped on the board first in the top half of the first inning after
Jack Hopko doubled into right field scoring
Ryan Thompson.Â
Connecticut then scored the next eight runs plating runners in the first, second, fourth, and fifth innings. Rhode Island cut into UConn's 8-1 lead in the sixth with back-to-back, two-out homers from Hopko and
Ryan King to make it al 8-3 game.Â
The Rams tacked on two more runs in the seventh. The first of which came home when
Scott Penney reached on a Husky error. Then, Reece Maloney flied out for center field which score
Jayden Tolentino to make it a three-run game. The Huskies added their final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh, leading to the eventual final score.
Inside the Box Score
- Rhode Island's five hits came from its 3-4-5 hitters Ryan Thompson, Jack Hopko, and Ryan King.Â
- Thompson, Hopko, and King combined finished the game 5-for-13. The rest of the Rams lineup went 0-for-18.
- All five of Rhode Island's hits were for extra bases.
- Thompson had a double and a run scored in the game.
- Hopko had a double, home run, two RBI, and a run scored.
- King also had a double and a home run. He added an RBI and a run scored.Â
- Ryan Henschel, Jayden Tolentino, and Adian Botti all reached base once on walks. Henschel and Tolentino each scored.
- Reece Moroney reached base on a walk and also had a sacrifice fly RBI.Â
- Colin Maloney pitched a scoreless ninth inning allowing one hit and striking out a batter.
Up Next
Rhode Island begins a three-game series at Saint Louis on Friday, April 22. First pitch in game one of the series is set for 7 p.m. EST.