Baseball | Rams rough up Hawks

After losing three straight to the Massachusetts Minutemen, the Saint Joseph's baseball team looked to return to their winning ways with a three-game series against the Rhode Island Rams starting on April 24. But St. Joe's was no match for Rhode Island's offense, as the Rams swept the Hawks, winning 16-8 in game one, 14-7 in game two, and 6-1 in game three.

The Hawks (14-22-1, 7-10 A 10) found themselves down early in the series opener, as Rhode Island jumped ahead in the top of the first with a two-run double. Not to be outmatched, the Hawks answered quickly with three runs of their own. With the bases loaded and no outs, a single by David Valesente, '10, scored the Hawks' first run of the game. A sacrifice fly by Drew Smith, '10, and a later single by Ryan McDonald, '11, scored two more runs, giving the Hawks a 3-2 lead.

Rhode Island (29-13-1, 15-2 A 10) found themselves in an even deeper hole by the end of the third inning. A grand slam by Dewey Oriente, '10, in the second and a double by Mike Boyland, '10, in the third added five runs to the Hawks lead. The Rams answered with a run in both the second and third innings, cutting into the Hawks' lead and leaving the game with a score of 8-4 Hawks after three innings.

For the rest of the game, however, the Hawks could do nothing but watch the Rams storm back. Rhode Island scored 12 unanswered runs over the next four innings, highlighted by a seven-spot in the fourth and a triple play turned in the sixth. The damage was done against Randy Mower, '10, (4-5), who got roughed up for 11 runs (10 earned) on 13 hits in 3.2 innings.

Game two saw more of the same offensive production from both teams. At the end of three innings, the Rams led the Hawks 4-3. Highlighting the Hawks early offense was an RBI single by Mike Plakis, '12, in the second inning, an RBI triple in the third by Oriente, followed later in the inning by an RBI by Mike Blahusch, '09, on a fielder's choice.

Once again, however, Rhode Island's offense was too much for the Hawks. The Rams scored 10 runs over the next six innings, including eight in the sixth. Despite one more RBI each from Plakis and Blahusch and two RBIs from Ryan Kemp, '12, in the ninth, the Hawks fell to the Rams by a score of 14-7.

In game three, the Hawks fell behind early again. Down 1-0 in the third, a throwing error by Mike Lebel let the Hawks score their only run of the game, tying the score at the end of three.

Over the rest of the game, the Rams slowly tacked onto their lead, scoring five unanswered runs over six innings. By the end of the weekend, the Hawks were left without a win in the series, extending their losing streak to six.

They fall three games below .500 in conference play with nine A-10 games remaining, including trips to Charlotte and Xavier, both of whom sit above them in the standings.