Kingston, R.I – The Sacred Heart baseball team was unable to hold off a late rally by URI as the home team took the game, 6-4 on Tuesday afternoon at Bill Beck Field. The Pioneers (5-13) four run second inning wasn't enough as the Rams (7-10) battled back with runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to take the midweek tilt. 

SHU started off the game strong as junior right fielder Dan Schock opened the top of the second inning with a single up the middle. Rams starter Jake Walker then loaded the bases with walks to redshirt junior PJ DeFilippo and senior Jake Friar. Freshman Austin Markmann worked the Pioneers third straight walk to bring home Schock. After a pitching change by URI, freshman Kevin Czapelski then lifted a sacrifice fly down the left field line to take the 2-0 lead. Junior Alex Perry added the third run of the inning on the RBI fielder's choice at third base; senior Ted Shaw scored from first on a throwing error by third baseman Matt O'Neil to push the lead to 4-0.  

URI cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Brett McManus to left field and an RBI single through the right side by Chris Hess. The Rams tacked on one more run in the bottom of the third inning on the RBI double down the left field line by O'Neil of Pioneers starter Franklin Miller. Both teams were quite at the plate before URI  tied the game up at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning as Jordan Powell singled the offering from sophomore Baylor Sundahl through the left side to bring home Martin Figueroa from second. The Rams rally continued in the bottom of the eighth inning as McManus roped a leadoff triple to centerfield off Markmann. He scored on the RBI double by Mike Foley in the next at bat. URI then loaded the bases and Powell worked a full count and came away with the RBI walk to bring the score to 6-4. 

SHU was held to just three hits on the day by the URI pitching staff. Freshman Elijah Brown, Schock and junior Cody Doyle had the three SHU hits. Miller pitched five innings allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Sophomore Brent Teller pitched a hitless frame in the sixth inning. Markmann picked up the loss allowing two earned runs in two thirds of the eighth. 

The Pioneers open up Northeast Conference play this weekend when they host CCSU for a three-game series at Harbor Yard. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 3:00 p.m.