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

VCU Lineup
Farrar (CF), Bunn (LF), Davis (3B), Machin (SS), Carpenter (1B), Hileman (DH), Acker (RF), Haymaker (C), Barezo (2B), Howie (P) 

How it Happened
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the fourth, Chris Hess hit a leadoff single and stole second before taking third on a wild pitch. He then crossed the plate on Derek Gardella's single through the left side to make it a 2-1 game.

Rhode Island (16-16-1, 9-4) then pulled ahead in the top of the sixth when Mike Corin belted an opposite-field, three-run homer which also scored Hess and Martin Taveras.

Taveras sent a two-out, RBI-double down the left field line in his next trip to the plate and then scored to make it 6-2 on a single by Corin.

The Rams got their final run of the game in the top of the ninth when Nick DeRegis drew a four-pitch walk with bases loaded and two away.

VCU (24-17, 7-6) managed to push a run across in the bottom of the ninth, but would not get any closer as Rhody held on for the 7-3 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• After combining for just 12 hits in their two midweek games, the Rams erupted for 15 in the series opener against VCU. 
• Each of Rhody's nine hitters reached base at least one with eight different players recording at least one hit.
• Redshirt freshman Chris Hess and redshirt junior Derek Gardella led the way with three hits apiece. Hess also stole a pair of bases and scored three times while Gardella drove in a run and collected his team-leading 19th walk of the season.
• Redshirt sophomore Mike Corin, sophomore Martin Taveras and freshman Jordan also recorded multi-hit games with two apiece.
• Corin hit his fourth home run of the season and ended the day with four RBI, increasing his team-leading total to 32 on the season.
• Taveras doubled twice, was hit by a pitch, scored twice and drove in a run.
• Junior Lou Distasio picked up the win, improving to 3-1 in Atlantic 10 games and 4-4 overall. He allowed just six hits over eight innings, struck out five and walked none.
• Redshirt senior Brendan Doonan gave up one run on three hits in the bottom of the ninth.
• Distasio and Doonan combined for six strikeouts with no walks, marking the fourth time this season the Rhody pitching staff issues zero walks.
• VCU starter JoJo Howie was charged with the loss, allowing six runs on 14 hits over 6.2 innings.

What's Next 
The Rams are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they return to Randolph-Macon's Estes Park for Game #2 against VCU. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.