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The Northeastern University baseball team fell to the Rhode Island Rams by a score of 7-6 on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon at Friedman Diamond in Brookline, Mass.

The Huskies eventually fell into a 4-0 hole in the fourth, but scored twice in the bottom half to trim the margin to 4-2. JT Ross was saddled with his third loss of the year.

Northeastern trailed 7-2 heading into the ninth, but scored four times off of several clutch hits to cut the score to 7-6, but failed to deliver one final hit to extend the contest.

Sophomore backstop John Puttress knocked in his seventh and eighth RBIs of 2011 with a two-out two RBI double in the fourth. Unfortunately that was the only offense the Huskies could muster in dropping NU's home record to 1-2.

Ross allowed four runs, one earned, on five hits while walking just two. The senior southpaw struck out one in his effort.

The Rams took the early 1-0 lead in the second when Greg Annarummo started the threat with a lead off triple. Ty Muller wasted no time by promptly dropping a single in front of the ranging RF Pete Castoldi to make it 1-0.

Rhode Island continued to add to the damage in the third, scoring once more to double the lead to 2-0. A one-out error by 3B Jimmy Filter put Jeff Cammans on first, but Filter atoned for the mishap by snaring a Tom Coulombe liner for the second out. Annarummo singled through the right side to put runners on the corners for Muller, who subsequently knocked in his second run of the afternoon with a single into right to score Cammans.

Northeastern surrendered a pair of unearned runs in the fourth to once again double the deficit to 4-0. Kenny Burns dropped a one-out bunt single to reach first. Mike Lebel attempted to sacrifice Burns over with a bunt, but Ross, after cleanly fielding the ball, hurled the throw over Matt Miller's head to put runners at first and third with one out. Pat Fortunato capitalized on the RBI opportunity with a sacrifice fly to Castoldi in right to score Burns for the 3-0 lead. With two outs and Cammans batting, Lebel stole second and third on two consecutive pitches. Ross uncorked a wild pitch on a 3-0 count to walk Cammans and allow Lebel to scamper home from third for the Rams' fourth run of the afternoon. Ross would get Coulombe to fly out to right to end the inning for his final batter of the day.

The Huskies sliced Rhode Island's lead in half in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice to cut the score to just 4-2. Castoldi slugged a two-out double to left to start the rally. Filter singled to short to put runners at the corners for John Puttress, who smacked a double into right to plate both runners. Puttress was thrown out at third trying to advance the double into a triple.

Kevin Ferguson pitched two shutout innings, while Matt Cook shut the door in the seventh to maintain the score.

The game remained 4-2 until the eighth when Chris Carmain allowed a trio of Rams' runs to provide the winning margin. Milan Adams tripled to left center to lead off before Carmain walked Burns and drilled Lebel to load the bases. Carmain's free pass to Fortunato scored Adams to put the score at 5-2, keeping the bases loaded for Cammans. Dylan Maki was called in from the bullpen, and garnered a routine 6-4 force out at second for the first out. Burns scored on the play for the second run of the inning. The Rams would score their final run of the inning when Coulombe flied the Maki pitch into right for the sacrifice fly, scoring Lebel for Rhode Island's seventh and final run of the afternoon.

NU's four run frame in the ninth made things interesting, but Rams' reliever Dan Johnson got one final out for the victory. Castoldi, Puttress and Jason Roth all walked to load the bases with one out to bring in Johnson. Oliver Hart lined out for the second out to bring up Aaron Barbosa. The speedy outfielder drove in the Huskies' third run of the afternoon, beating out an infield single to keep the bases loaded. Ricky Salvucci, Miller and Jon Leroux singled in back-to-back-to-back fashion to make the contest 7-6 to keep the bases chucked for Castoldi, but Castoldi grounded into a force play at second to end the game.

The Huskies return to action Friday, hosting a three-game set at Friedman Diamond against the Hofstra Pride. Les Williams is scheduled for Friday afternoon, Andrew Leenhouts is slated for Saturday, and Brandon McNelis is penciled in for game three.

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