A 2017 Rhody Baseball Status Update: 4/22/17
Overall record: 19-16
Non-conference record: 9-10
Conference record: 8-4
Home record: 5-1
Neutral record: 2-3
Road record: 12-12
Team batting average: .268
Team on-base percentage: .362
Team slugging percentage: .391
Stolen bases: 57
Team earned run average: 4.07
Hits allowed: 284
Home runs allowed: 19
Walks allowed: 147
Fielding percentage: .965
Putouts: 928
Assists: 272
Errors: 43
After many disappointing games against non-conference opposition, conference play is in full swing for Rhode Island and non-conference games will be far and few in between, from here on out. At Bill Beck Field, the Rams have done their job, going 5-1 in front of their home crowd. Meanwhile, on the road, the team's contests sit at an average winning percentage of 50%. If the Rams can start winning series on the road, they will dominate the Atlantic 10 again.
Thus far, they lost a series on the road in Olean, NY to the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies, a team that is 9-5 in conference play to this point. Currently, Rhode Island sits at second in the conference, two games behind VCU (10-2 in the conference). Also, fans should keep an eye on the aforementioned Bonnies, as well as the Fordham Rams, who are 7-4 in conference and will be playing VCU over the course of this weekend.
Statistically, the team is performing above average in most categories and the pitching staff has done a relatively good job of keeping the baseball from being launched over the fence. Moreover, do not forget that this is a team that is missing the services of 2017 consensus preseason All-American, Tyler Wilson. Without #42 on the mound, the pitching staff is continuing to mature. In particular, Matt Murphy and Vitaly Jangols have been impressive.
Offensively, Jordan Powell, Martin Figueroa, Chris Hess, Michael Corin, and Matt O'Neil have continued to pace their team. Given the progression of Murphy and Jangols, coupled with the consistent offensive production of the upperclassmen, Raphael Cerrato's team is primed for success.
From a fielding perspective, a team fielding percentage of .965 is healthy. With that said, reducing errors to an even greater extent will help to sustain this team's status as a contender for the Atlantic 10 championship. Currently, the team's total of 43 errors is not extremely alarming but it is a number to keep an eye on, going forward.
