Spring Break
URI baseball falls to in-state rival after season openers on the road
Brandon Gearing
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: Sports
03/27/09 - After playing its first 18 games on the road, the University of Rhode Island returned home to the Ocean State with a failed effort, falling 7-1 to in-state rival Bryant University on Wednesday.
Sophomore Chris Pickering got the start for Rhody but only lasted two innings after giving up three runs on four hits in the loss.
"I think we played terrible," head coach Jim Foster said. "I think we had a hangover from that long road trip. It happens every year when we come back up north."
The game was played at the Bryant Baseball Complex in Smithfield, R.I. after URI Athletic officials determined that the newly renovated Bill Beck Field would not be ready for the home game.
Dan Mello put Bryant on the board first in the second inning, hitting a ground ball single between short and third that was then mishandled by junior left fielder Zoey Angulo, allowing Jordan English to score from second. The Bulldogs' Pat McKenna would later pad the lead with a three-run blast above the left field wall to move the score to 4-0. The homerun would ultimately chase Pickering from the game.
After a scoreless bottom half of the inning, Foster called on junior Dan Rossignol to stop the bleeding.
Rossignol was able to quiet the Bulldog bats for two innings before being smacked around for three runs on three hits and one error in the top of the sixth.
With a 7-1 lead in the seventh, Bryant was able to take starting pitcher Chris Foundas out of the game and cruise to victory behind the hitless relief pitching of Matt Griswold, Brian O'Neil and Mark Andrews.
The loss moved Rhody to 12-7 on the season, while Bryant improved to 14-7.
"We didn't play as bad as 7-1," Foster said. "There were a lot of little things that we did wrong and Bryant just did a good job. We got beat."
The Rams look to rebound in a three-game series with Atlantic 10 rival Xavier University this weekend.
"Every day's a new day," Foster said. "Xavier's always a tough team. They're one of the top teams in the conference. We always have very good games with them and we're looking forward to it."
Rhody's next home game is scheduled for March 31 against Central Connecticut State University, but Foster said he expects URI's opener to be played against Dayton University on April 3.
Field maintenance crews are still putting the finishing touches on the field. The fencing and the pitcher's mound are yet to be completed, but Foster said he expects them to be finished in time for Dayton.
Sophomore Chris Pickering got the start for Rhody but only lasted two innings after giving up three runs on four hits in the loss.
"I think we played terrible," head coach Jim Foster said. "I think we had a hangover from that long road trip. It happens every year when we come back up north."
The game was played at the Bryant Baseball Complex in Smithfield, R.I. after URI Athletic officials determined that the newly renovated Bill Beck Field would not be ready for the home game.
Dan Mello put Bryant on the board first in the second inning, hitting a ground ball single between short and third that was then mishandled by junior left fielder Zoey Angulo, allowing Jordan English to score from second. The Bulldogs' Pat McKenna would later pad the lead with a three-run blast above the left field wall to move the score to 4-0. The homerun would ultimately chase Pickering from the game.
After a scoreless bottom half of the inning, Foster called on junior Dan Rossignol to stop the bleeding.
Rossignol was able to quiet the Bulldog bats for two innings before being smacked around for three runs on three hits and one error in the top of the sixth.
With a 7-1 lead in the seventh, Bryant was able to take starting pitcher Chris Foundas out of the game and cruise to victory behind the hitless relief pitching of Matt Griswold, Brian O'Neil and Mark Andrews.
The loss moved Rhody to 12-7 on the season, while Bryant improved to 14-7.
"We didn't play as bad as 7-1," Foster said. "There were a lot of little things that we did wrong and Bryant just did a good job. We got beat."
The Rams look to rebound in a three-game series with Atlantic 10 rival Xavier University this weekend.
"Every day's a new day," Foster said. "Xavier's always a tough team. They're one of the top teams in the conference. We always have very good games with them and we're looking forward to it."
Rhody's next home game is scheduled for March 31 against Central Connecticut State University, but Foster said he expects URI's opener to be played against Dayton University on April 3.
Field maintenance crews are still putting the finishing touches on the field. The fencing and the pitcher's mound are yet to be completed, but Foster said he expects them to be finished in time for Dayton.
