KINGSTON, R.I. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team received solid outings on the mound on Saturday, but could not break through offensively as Rhode Island came away with a 2-1 victory at Bill Beck Field for the second time in as many days.

Rhode Island (14-25 overall, 5-9 Atlantic 10) took the lead in the bottom of the first as Kevin Heiss singled and eventually came around to score on a single by Xavier Vargas.

The Rams doubled the lead in the third after Jordan Powell singled, stole second, advanced on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.

Saint Joseph's (14-19 overall, 4-8 Atlantic 10) was able to get on the board in the seventh as James McConnon led off with a walk and went to third on a double by Cole Stetzar.  Marc Giacalone followed with an RBI groundout that chased Wilson, but Tyler Barss came on and stranded the tying run at third.

The Rams threatened in the later innings, but the Hawks weathered the storm.  After a leadoff double by Mike Foley in the seventh, Steve Powles induced a groundout and a flyout to keep the game at 2-1.  In the eighth, Rhode Island put two on with two outs, but Jake Artz threw out Greg Cavaliere at the plate trying to score an insurance run to end the frame.

Nick Johnson then came on in the ninth and retired the side for his fifth save of the season.

Tyler Wilson was strong on the mound for URI, not allowing a hit until the sixth inning.  He allowed one run on two hits, striking out eight and walking one in six and a third innings to improve to 2-6.  Tim Brennan allowed eight hits but just the two early runs, fanning three without a walk in six and a third innings of his own; he fell to 6-3.  Barss and Johnson combined for two and two-thirds innings of perfect relief for the Rams.

The teams will meet at noon on Sunday in the series finale.