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University of Rhode Island

Final Baseball Header
Nora Kelley
1
Rhode Island URI 26-31
9
Winner VCU VCU 37-23
Rhode Island URI
26-31
1
Final
9
VCU VCU
37-23
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Rhode Island URI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 8 4
VCU VCU 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 2 X 9 13 0

W: Newman, Dawson (5-1) L: Cullen, Jake (3-5) S: Campbell, Cooper (3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Run Ends For Rhody In A-10 Title Game

No. 5 Rhode Island Starters
Penney (2B), Thompson (1B), Moroney (SS), Hopko (RF), King (3B), Connolly (DH), Leikus (C), Botti (LF), Henschel (CF), Cullen (P)

No. 3 VCU Starters
DeFranco (SS), Petite (CF), Lethert (DH), Lee (DH), Flores (LF), Kirkpatrick (3B), Maher (1B), Warden (2B), Adelman (RF), DiGiacomo (P)

How It Happened
Rhode Island's memorable bid for back-to-back Atlantic 10 Baseball Championships came to an end Sunday, as Rhody (26-31) fell to VCU 9-1 in the title game.

VCU (37-23) struck first, getting a single run in the bottom of the second. Things could have been much worse for URI, as VCU loaded the bases with no outs thanks to an error, hit batsman and a bunt single. Rhody starter Jake Cullen induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Trent Adelman, which allowed Nate Kirkpatrick to score the first run of the day. Cullen then retired Dante DeFranco on a fly ball, ending the inning with limited damage.

VCU broke the game open two innings later. Alec Warden delivered a one-out, two-run single to left field. He drove in Nick Flores and Nate Kirkpatrick to pad VCU's lead. The next batter, Adelman, drilled a two-run homer to deep left field, extending the lead to 5-0. VCU added two more runs before the frame was over, creating a large hole for Rhode Island to dig out of.

URI finally got on the scoreboard with two outs in the top of the eighth. Jack Hopko singled to left field to drive in Ryan Henschel. The hit broke up the shutout bid, but it was all the scoring Rhode Island managed in the game.

Inside the Box Score
  • Reece Moroney had two hits. His 90 total hits in 2026 are the most in a single season in program history.
  • Scott Penney finished the game with a pair of hits.
  • Jack Hopko had a hit and Rhode Island's lone RBI. Hopko's 63 RBI this season is third most in a single season in program history. 
  • Brian Connolly, Aidan Botti, and Ryan Henschel each had a hit. Henschel scored Rhode Island's only run. 
  • Braeden Perry pitched the final four innings for Rhode Island allowing two runs, both unearned, on five hits. 
  • Hopko, Monroney, Penny, and Ryan King were all named to the all-tournament team.
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