The UConn baseball team secured a 9-5 win over the University of Rhode Island Rams at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford, Conn.
Charlie Hale started on the mound for UConn and pitched three innings, allowing two hits and one run. Hale also recorded two strikeouts during his innings pitched.
In the top of the first, senior Jack Hopko doubled to right field, which sent sophomore Ryan Thompson home from second base to give the Rams a 1-0 lead early in the game.
UConn quickly tied things up in the bottom of the first following an RBI from Cam Righi that brought Anthony Belisario from third to score. Maddix Dalena doubled to right field which brought Jackson Marshall in to score, giving UConn a 2-1 lead.
Following a balk from junior left-handed pitcher Josh Kopetski, Dalena advanced home to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead entering the second inning.
After a quiet top of the second for the Rams, UConn built on their momentum from the first when Belisario earned an RBI which sent Rob Rispoli home to add to their lead. But the scoring did not stop there; UConn was able to gain a 5-1 lead after Belisario scored following Marshall’s strong hit to right field.
Marshall continued his hot streak at bat with a two-run RBI which again brought Belisario into home plate along with Rispoli to give the Huskies a 7-1 lead entering the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, Gabriel Tirado earned himself an RBI when he singled to left side to send home Chris Polemeni and secure an 8-1 advantage.
However, the Rams responded with back-to-back home runs in the top of the sixth to cut UConn’s lead to five.
A UConn error brought in junior Ryan Henschel to bring the score to 8-4. The Rams did not stop there and added another run to the scoreboard after infielder Reece Moroney hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Jayden Tolentino.
UConn responded in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore Evan Menzel singled up the middle, allowing Polemeni to reach home base and add another run to the scoreboard.
Late in the bottom of the eighth, Marshall continued his hitting streak, bringing in a double with the score staying 9-5.
A scoreless bottom of the eighth sent the Huskies to the batter’s box to close out the game in the top of the ninth.
Paxton Meyers closed out the game for UConn on the mound with three strikeouts and one hit across 2.2 innings pitched.
Rhode Island worked to get more runs on the scoreboard, having two runners on first and second base but could not convert solidifying the 9-5 win for the Huskies.
Up next, the Huskies will travel to Washington, D.C. to face off against Georgetown in a Big East matchup. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday and will continue Saturday at 3 p.m. The series will conclude on Sunday with a start time at 1 p.m.