KINGSTON, R.I. – Trailing for the first time all game, 5-3 after a three run Rhode Island eighth, the Sacred Heart baseball team exploded for five runs in the top of the ninth, including four with two outs, for an 8-6 comeback triumph on Saturday afternoon. 

James Cooksey sealed the victory with his first save of the season after coming on in the bottom half of the ninth with the bases loaded and nobody out. Jayson Sullivan was the lone Pioneer with more than one hit on the afternoon, as the junior went three for five with two runs scored. Victor Sorrento added two RBI's in the win, which brings SHU's record to 2-14. Nick DeRegis delivered a two for four performance with three RBI's and a home run, and Ram starter Steve Moyers went seven innings allowing one earned run, but it was not enough as URI is now 5-9.

Ted Shaw's leadoff drag bunt single was the igniter for the ninth inning comeback. Despite a groundout by the next batter, Kenny Byram's hit by pitch brought Alex Perry to plate, and he the freshman man came through with a single up the middle, scoring Shaw to bring SHU within one. This forced the Rams to call upon Taso Stathopoulos out of the bullpen, and he delivered by getting the second out of the inning by way of a flyout.

Zack Short was then intentionally walked, setting up a two-out, bases loaded situation for Sullivan. Sullivan tied the game with his third hit of the day, a single down the line that was knocked down by the third baseman, but could not be corralled for an out. The game winning runs were scored in the next at bat, as Sorrento's grounder to short was fielded cleanly, but then thrown away allowing two more Pioneers to score. P.J. DeFilippo's single put an exclamation point on the inning, stretching the lead to 8-5.

URI threatened themselves in the bottom half of the frame, getting the first three hitters on base via a double, single, and hit by pitch. This is when SHU called upon Cooksey. A sacrifice fly cut the deficit to two, but Cooksey put an end to the game in the next at bat, inducing a victory sealing double play for the Pioneer win.

Jason Foley started the game for Sacred Heart and turned in a solid 4.1 innings, allowing just one earned run with eight of his 13 outs coming by way of strikeout, a new career high. Robbie Maguire then relieved him and was cruising until the three run eighth. He finished with a final line of 3.1 innings and three earned runs. Dan Wertz captured the win, as he came on to get the final out of the eighth before giving way to Cooksey in the ninth.  Short and Shaw both scored two runs, while Perry, Medina, Sullivan, and DeFilippo each had one RBI.

The Rams had a comeback of their own in the eighth, plating three to overcome a 3-2 deficit. All of the damage came with two outs. Following a leadoff single, Maguire looked to preserve the lead after getting the next two outs. A wild pitch and sacrifice had advanced the leadoff man to third with one out, but Maguire induced a groundout for the second out. He then ran into control issues, walking the next three to allow the tying run to cross. In came Wertz to relieve him, and on just his second pitch, URI took the lead with DeRegis' two RBI single up the middle. Wertz limited the damage to just that, getting the next hitter to ground out to send the game to the ninth.

Only three of the eight runs allowed by Rhode Island were earned. Dan Jacobson was tabbed with the loss, tossing 1.1 innings with two earned runs crossing. Jordan Powell and Ryan Olmo had three and two hits respectively, each scoring a run.

SHU took the initial lead in the second, with Shaw and Jake Friar reaching by way of a walk and hit by pitch. Byram's single resulted in a fielding error by the left fielder, allowing Shaw to score the first run of the afternoon. Sacred Heart added one more in the third, as Sorrento's two out RBI double brought home Sullivan, who had singled and stole second with two outs.

Rhode Island tied the game with one run in both the third and fourth. The third inning run came after a throwing error. DeRegis then delivered a two out solo homer to even the score. SHU responded right away in the top half of the fifth, with Sorrento registering his second RBI of the game on a groundout. 

The two teams were scheduled to play a second game after the conclusion of the first, but inclement weather forced a cancellation. They will now meet again tomorrow, playing a doubleheader beginning at noon.