Morphew Homers Twice as Baseball Outlasted by URI

Tuesday, April 11

Providence, R.I.

3:30 p.m.

Brown University

7-18

Rhode Island

12-16

Rhode Island

Brown

Photo by: Emma C. Marion

Morphew Homers Twice as Baseball Outlasted by URI

4/11/2023 7:34:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior Derian Morphew hit his first two home runs of the season on Tuesday afternoon, but Rhode Island used a six-run eighth inning to pull away from Brown late in a 12-5 non-league win.

Seven of Brown's eight hits came from the top four spots in the batting order, led by Morphew who had three hits, including two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored. Morphew also made an appearance on the mound, tossing the final 1.2 innings in his second outing this season. Senior Jacob Burley reached base three times with two hits and a walk, and freshman Mika Petersen added a two-run single.

Morphew led off for the Bears by launching a 2-0 pitch out to the opposite field for his first home run of the season to give the Bears the early 1-0 lead in the first.

OPPO TACO! 🌮
THAT...is how you start the game!

Watch on ESPN+https://t.co/6B85CvjGfc pic.twitter.com/UEwlFkwtW0
— Brown Baseball (@BrownU_Baseball) April 11, 2023

Rhody tied the game on a leadoff home run in the top of the second inning by Anthony DePino. URI took the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth, starting the frame with a single, RBI triple and RBI double. A two-out throwing error tacked on another run made it a 4-1 game.

Morphew provided another jolt for Brown in the bottom of the fifth inning with his second homer of the game, launching a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence to bring the Bears within 4-3.

The only thing better than your first home of the year? How about two in the same game 🔥

Watch on ESPN+https://t.co/6B85CvjGfc pic.twitter.com/cwKFxz7ZvL
— Brown Baseball (@BrownU_Baseball) April 11, 2023

URI loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh and tacked on two insurance runs with a pair of two-out walks to push the lead to 6-3. Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Morphew stepped to the plate and launched a deep fly ball to left center field, but was robbed of his third home run of the game on a leaping catch against the wall by Calvin McCall.

URI carried the momentum into the eighth inning, putting the game out of reach with a six-run frame that featured four walks, a hit by pitch, an error, and two hits, including a big three-run homer that made it a 12-3 ballgame.

Brown came back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth when Petersen found a spot in shallow center field to plate Morphew and Ryan Marra and to bring the score to 12-5.

The Bears will return to action this weekend when they welcome Penn to Murray Stadium for a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday.

Gallery: (4-11-2023) Baseball vs. URI, 4/11/2023

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