Box Score Box score

Rhode Island ran away with a 15-5 win over Northeastern in a game that featured 40 players and 23 hits. Jon Leroux got the Huskies started with a three-run home run, the first of his career, to put NU up 3-0 after the first. But Rhode Island scored 11 unanswered runs and shut down the Huskies' offense to take the non-league win.

The game started quite favorably for NU. John Puttress and Tony DiCesare walked, setting the stage for Leroux's blast. The game stayed 3-0 before the Rams lowered their horns in the third inning, using five hits and two walks to score six runs.

The Rams tacked on a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth, putting NU in a 10-3 hole. URI scored again in the top of the seventh, but the Huskies mounted a comeback in the bottom half of the frame with two runs.

Ricky Salvucci clubbed his first collegiate hit, a single to left field. Matt Miller executed a perfect bunt single to set the stage for Tucker Roeder to get an RBI by reaching on an error. Miller moved to third and eventually scored when the Rams' catcher threw the ball into right field in a failed pick-off attempt.

Northeastern seemed within scratching distance at 11-5, but Rhode Island added two runs in the eighth and hammered the nails in the coffin with two more in the ninth.

David Gustafson smacked two singles in a solid offensive contribution. Chris Guillemette logged his first hit of the season by streaking down the baseline to leg out a high chopper up the middle.

Brandon McNelis got the start for NU, throwing two scoreless innings before getting tagged for six runs in the third inning. Reliever Chris Carmain fared no better, allowing four runs in just 1 1/3 innings. Dylan Maki tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, hitless ball, allowing just one walk. Michael Murphy, Greg Ferguson and Dave Fioretti combined for the last three innings, allowing four runs on six hits.

NU pitchers combined for five strikeouts. Puttress and Roeder, who shared catching duties, each threw out an attempted base stealer.

Northeastern gets a bit of a break, with no scheduled games until Tuesday, April 13 when Harvard visits Friedman Diamond.