Box Score Box score

Northeastern's combination of solid pitching and strong defense was the recipe for victory as the Huskies topped Rhode Island, 4-2, in Kingstown, R.I. on Wednesday afternoon. NU scored two runs in the fourth and seventh innings to lock down the win, sending the team into its final series of 2010. It was a game of revenge for NU, which fell to URI on April 7 in a non-conference home game.

Starting pitcher Brandon McNelis was a leader on the mound, grinding out 5-2/3 innings. He kept URI scoreless through five, but got tagged for two runs (one of which scored after he was removed). He allowed seven hits, but also struck out seven (a career-high).

The bullpen was stellar in closing the game out. Kevin Ferguson, Chris Carmain and Dan Zehr combined for 3-1/3 innings of shutout relief, allowing just two hits. Ferguson, who got the win, came in after McNelis to finish the sixth and pitch the seventh. Carmain tossed a perfect eighth and Zehr eliminated three batters in the ninth to pick up his first save of 2010 (his school-leading 12th career save).

Eight of the nine Huskies in the lineup got hits on the day, including multi-hit performances from Brendan Stokes and Ryan Maguire. Stokes and Maguire each tallied a double and a single. David Gustafson chipped in an RBI triple during NU's two-run seventh, and Tucker Roeder hit a two-out single in the fourth that scored a run.

Matt Miller, the lone hitless Husky, drove in a run on a fielder's choice and scored on Gustafson's triple. Tony DiCesare singled and scored on a passed ball, and Frank Compagnone also singled and scored on Roeder's single.

McNelis sparkled through the first five frames, holding the Rams scoreless. The stalwart defense behind him played flawlessly as NU finished a game without committing an error for just the sixth time this season. The Huskies' offense spotted McNelis two in the fourth, and the 2-0 lead stood until the sixth inning.

The Rams rallied to score twice, using a leadoff home run and a couple of two-out walks to even the game at 2-2. But NU turned the jets on again, scoring twice to put the game away.

Maguire led off with a double and moved to third when Alan Pastyrnak legged out a bunt single. Miller's groundout scored Maguire and wiped Pastyrnak out at second, setting up Gustafson's triple to left-center field.

The 4-2 lead was all the NU bullpen would need as it cruised through three innings. Carmain, who threw in the eighth inning, has been outstanding in relief for NU. Since April 21, he has made six appearances, going 6-2/3 innings while allowing no runs. He's allowed just four hits, zero walks and has struck out five batters.

NU will wrap up its season this weekend with a three-game set at Delaware. Last year, the Huskies swept the Blue Hens at Friedman Diamond during the regular season, but lost in the CAA tournament to finish the year. Check back on GoNU.com for stats, the starting rotation and other information.