Rhode Island Starters (9-18, 5-5 Atlantic 10)
Penney (2B), Calandrelli (1B), Moroney (SS), Hopko (RF), Botti (LF), Toro (C), Connolly (3B), King (DH), Henschel (CF), Sabbath (P)
VCU Starters (17-12, 8-2 Atlantic 10)
Flores (LF), Lee (C), Petite (CF), Kirkpatrick (3B), Lethert (DH), Adelman (RF), DeFranco (SS), Maher (1B), Warden (2B), Holbert (P)
How it Happened
A strong combined pitching performance from Joe Sabbath and Sam Houchens led Rhode Island to a 5-1 win over VCU on Friday afternoon at Bill Beck Field. Sabbath pitched six innings allowing one run on three hits before giving way for Houchens who threw the final three innings allowing three hits and no runs.Â
With the game tied at one in entering the bottom of the fifth inning, Reece Moroney led off the frame with a double. He would come in to score on a Nicholas Toro ground out to give Rhode Island the 2-1 lead through five. That run was the difference maker, but the Rhode Island offense wasn't done adding three insurance runs in the later innings of the game.Â
Toro came through again in the bottom of the seventh. With Jack Hopko on third, Toro hit a sacrifice fly RBI to right field that brought Hopko in to score and gave Rhode Island a two-run advantage at 3-1.Â
Rhode Island added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth when Moroney doubled home Ryan Henschel and Paul Calandrelli to take the four-run lead and help solidify the series opening win.
Inside the Box Score
Up Next
Rhode Island and VCU will complete the series with a doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, April 4. Game one of the day will begin at 11 a.m.
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