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

La Salle Lineup
McGowan (SS), Savakinus (3B), Williams (1B), Johnson (LF), Welling (C), Springston (RF), George (CF), Flax (2B), Fazzini (P)

How it Happened
Chris Hess blasted a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth, kick starting a seven-run inning for the Rams (23-23-1, 15-9). Martin Taveras was then walked before advancing on a wild pitch and scoring on a base hit by Mike Corin. Matt O'Neil followed with a single through the left side before Jordan Powell lasered a two-run double into deep centerfield to score both Corin and O'Neil and put Rhody up 4-0. With two away, Ryan Olmo's RBI single then plated Powell before Hess ripped a stand-up triple in his second at-bat of the inning. Both Olmo and Derek Gardella scored on the play to make it a 7-0 game.

After going four innings without a hit, La Salle (24-27-1, 12-12) got a leadoff double in the fifth to set up Ethan Springston's two-run homer that cut Rhody's advantage to 7-2. The Rams added another in the bottom of the frame however as Powell singled to score Corin and move ahead 8-2.

The Explorers got another two-run shot in the sixth to cut the Rhode Island lead in half at 8-4, but Rhody came back with a three-run eighth to put things out of reach. Nick DeRegis drove in two runs when he lined a bases-loaded single back up the middle before Taveras - who was hit by a pitch - scored on a single by O'Neil to make it 11-4 Rhody.

What it Means

• With the win, Rhode Island finishes the season tied for second in the Atlantic 10, after being picked to finish tied for 11th in the preseason coaches poll.
• The Rams, who matched Richmond's 15-9 mark in A-10 play, will enter next week's conference tournament as the #2 seed as a result of going 2-1 versus the Spiders earlier this season.
• The Atlantic 10 is expected to announce full tournament seeds and pairings later this afternoon at atlantic10.com.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island finished the day with 15 hits while holding La Salle to just five.
• Redshirt freshman Chris Hess finished the day a double shy of the cycle as he homered and tripled in the fourth inning and then singled in the eighth. He also scored twice and drove in three runs for the Rams.
• With six triples on the season, Hess in is just one shy of tying the program record (7), set by John Scullin in 2000. The last Ram to hit six triples in a single season was Mike LaBarbera in 2001. Ironically, LaBarbera threw out the ceremonial first pitch at today's game.
• Freshman Jordan Powell and redshirt sophomore Mike Corin also had three hits in the win. Powell added three RBI and a run scored while Corin crossed the plate twice and drove in one.
• Redshirt sophomore Matt O'Neil had two hits, one run and one RBI while recording three assists at third base.
• Redshirt junior Derek Gardella reached three times - on a double and two walks - and scored two runs.
• Sophomore Martin Taveras scored twice, despite an 0-for-3 day at the plate.
• Junior Ryan Olmo singled, drove in a run and scored one of his own.
• Seniors Tim Caputo and Nick DeRegis combined each had a hit for the Rams. Caputo's was a bunt single - his third of the season -while DeRegis' was a two-run single up the middle.
• Junior Steve Moyers (4-4) matched his season-best with eight strikeouts over seven innings pitched. He issued just one walk and did not allow a hit until the top of the fifth inning.
• Junior Derek Kawlewski tossed a 1-2-3 eighth before allowing just one hit in a scoreless ninth.
• La Salle starter Tom Fazzini took the loss, giving up three runs (all earned) on three hits and a pair of walks over 3.1 innings.

What's Next 
The Rams return to action at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, when they take on seventh-seeded Fordham in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship. All A-10 tournament games will be played at George Washington's Barcroft Park, located in Arlington, Va.

Please click here to visit the Atlantic 10's baseball championship central.