KINGSTON, R.I. – Freshman Matt Kennedy threw six and a third strong innings, allowing just one hit, but a pair of seventh-inning runs gave Rhode Island a 2-1 victory over the Saint Joseph's baseball team at Bill Beck Field on Friday.
Both Kennedy and URI's Matt Murphy were strong in the early going, as Murphy retired 12 consecutive hitters from the first through the fourth and Kennedy remained perfect until hitting a batter in the fifth.
Saint Joseph's (14-18 overall, 4-7 Atlantic 10) finally broke the deadlock in the top of the sixth as Brendan Hueth hit a one-out single and advanced to second on an error. Two batters later, James McConnon singled up the middle to plate Hueth and give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Kennedy did not allow a hit until a one-out double in the seventh by Jackson Coutts. Coutts would go on to score on an error before Greg Cavaliere singled home Xavier Vargas to give the Rams a 2-1 lead.
The Hawks had an opportunity in the top of the eighth, putting runners on the corners with one out, but Tyler Barss came out of the bullpen for Rhode Island (13-25 overall, 4-9 Atlantic 10) and notched a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.
Nick Johnson then threw a perfect ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Murphy earned the win, improving to 3-3 on the season, while Hayden Seig took the loss to fall to 0-4.
The teams will return to the diamond on Saturday for the second game of the weekend set. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
