Box Score MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team opened its final series of the regular season on Thursday, falling to Rhode Island, 11-4, at Smithson Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Rhode Island (34-19 overall, 21-7 Atlantic 10) got on the board in the top of the first on a fielder's choice by Reece Moroney.
 
• Owen Petrich answered right away in the bottom of the inning, following a Joey Pagano single with a two-out, two-run home run to put the Hawks on top, 2-1.
 
• The Rams went back in front in the fourth on a two-run home run by Rob Butler.  They would add a run later in the inning on a single by Eric Genther.
 
• Saint Joseph's (23-25 overall, 16-12 Atlantic 10) tied it in the sixth.  Alex Kelsey started things off with an infield single before Carson Applegate was hit by a pitch.  Two batters later, Petrich singled home Kelsey to cut the deficit to one; Blake Primrose then followed with a sacrifice fly to score Applegate and tie the game.
 
• A single by Scott Penney in the top of the seventh brought home an unearned run to put URI ahead, 5-4.  The Rams added breathing room in the eighth on a two-run double by Jack Hopko and a two-run home run by DJ Perron before setting the final margin on a two-run single by Genther in the ninth.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Parker Aikens allowed two runs on three hits in three innings of relief to earn the win while Ethan Bowen was charged with an unearned run on two hits in an inning and a third to take the loss.
 
• Neither starter figured into the decision; Frank Ciccone allowed three runs on five hits in three and two-thirds innings for the Hawks, while Jeremy Urena was charged with two runs on three hits in five innings for the Rams.
 
• Petrich went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in on Thursday, while Pagano also turned in a multi-hit performance.
 
UP NEXT
The teams will continue the series on Friday at 1:00 p.m.  The Hawks will honor their departing seniors and graduate students in a pregame ceremony at 12:25 p.m.