Rhode Island Lineup
Caputo (SS), Foreman (1B), Gardella (DH), Corin (3B), Sherburne (RF), Hess (2B), DeRegis (LF), Livingston (C), Powell (CF), Distasio (P) 

Saint Louis Lineup
Bozarth (CF), Frabasilio (LF), Vigliarolo (1B), Martinez (3B), Henson (C), Bunselmeyer (2B), Sniatynski (RF), Morisano (DH), King (SS), Moore (P) 

How it Happened
Saint Louis (15-7, 2-0) used the long ball score 10 of its 12 runs in a Saturday afternoon victory over Rhode Island.

The Rams (4-8, 0-2) scored three in the top of the first - when redshirt freshman Chris Hess ripped a two-out, bases-loaded triple to drive in Tim Caputo, Derek Gardella and Mike Corin - but SLU quickly evened things up in the bottom of the frame. Michael Bozarth scored first, on an RBI single by Mike Vigliarolo, and Braxton Martinez followed with a two-run shot that made it a 3-3 game.

Rhody reclaimed the lead in the top of the second as Chase Livingston scored on a sac-fly bay Caputo, but Martinez belted another home run in the bottom of the inning - this time driving in three to give the Billikens a 6-4 advantage.

SLU's Josh Bunselmeyer followed with a pair of homers in back-to-back at-bats. He first sent a solo shot over the right field wall in the third inning and followed with two-run shot in the fifth. 

The following inning, Bozarth scored on an RBI double by Colton Frabasilio to give Saint Louis a six-run lead (10-4) before a two-run homer by Jake Henson made it 12-4.

Meanwhile the Billiken pitching staff retired Rhody in order in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh while allowing just four men to bat in the second and fifth. The Rams' best chance came with one out in the eighth - with Connor Foreman on third and Gardella on second - but SLU's Connor Lehmann needed just four pitches to end the late threat.

Inside the Box Score

• As a team, Rhode Island managed just eight hits compared to Saint Louis' 14. Half of the Billikens' hits were for extra bases as they finished with five home runs and two doubles.
• Braxton Martinez and Josh Bunselmeyer each went yard twice for SLU. Martinez collected five RBI on the day while Bunselmeyer had three.
• The Billikens committed the lone error of the game, in the top of the eighth.
• Juniors Chase Livingston and Derek Gardella each went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Gardella has now reached base in nine consecutive games for the Rams while Livingston's hits were his first and second of the season.
• Freshman Jordan Powell also had a pair of hits, to go along with four putouts in centerfield. He came up with a big play to rob SLU's Braxton Martinez of what would have been his third home run of the day.
• Redshirt freshman Chris Hess drove in three runs on his first triple of the season. It also marked the first multi-RBI game of the season for the Rhody second baseman.
• Senior Tim Caputo went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. He has now reached safely in each of URI's last 11 games. 
• Junior Lou Distasio (1-3) was charged with the loss, giving up seven runs on nine hits - including three home runs - over a three-inning start.     
• Sophomore Evan Flanagan allowed five runs in a 2.2-inning relief appearance. Three of his four hits allowed were for extra bases.
• Redshirt senior Brendan Doonan, junior Brad Applin and redshirt sophomore Matt O'Neil closed out the game with two and a third innings of scoreless relief. The trio combined to allow just one hit while striking out a pair and issuing zero walks.

What's Next
Rhody and Saint Louis return to the Billiken Sports Center to close out the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Eastern (Noon, Central).