Rhode Island Lineup
Powell (CF), Lee (LF), Hess (2B), O'Neil (3B), Corin (DH), Figueroa (C), Foley (RF), McManus (1B), Heiss (SS), Stathopoulos (P)

Fordham Lineup
Baker (2B), Melendez (LF), Kozuch (3B), Donadio (RF), Bardwell (C), Stampfl (SS), Mahoney (DH), Goulard (1B), Lundy (CF), Cowell (P)

How it Happened
Rhode Island (23-16, 11-4 A-10) jumped all over Fordham (18-20, 7-8 A-10) right from the get-go, crushing back-to-back doubles followed by back-to-back homers - all with two outs - to take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Chris Hess got things started with a double to left field before being driven in on a two-bagger by Matt O'Neil. Mike Corin followed with his team-leading 12th home run of the season, before Martin Figueroa sent one over the right-center wall in the Rams' very next at-bat. 

Rhody pushed its lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth as Hess sent a two-run single through the right side, this time plating Jordan Powell and Jesse Lee with two away.

Corin scored the final run of the game for URI in the bottom of the fifth. After being hit by a pitch and advancing to second on a two-out walk to Figueroa, Corin got hung up between second and third and would likely have been caught at third base if not for catcher Justin Bardwell's throw down getting past Matthew Kozuch and rolling out into left field. The throwing error also allowed Corin to cross the plate safely, giving Rhody a 7-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Taso Stathopoulos was making easy work of the Fordham lineup, cruising through six innings without allowing a hit before being replaced by Nick Johnson in the bottom of the seventh. After issuing a leadoff walk, Johnson retired the next two Rams but Luke Stampfl sent a 3-2 offering out of the park for Fordham's only hit of the game.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhody's three (redshirt junior Chris Hess), four (redshirt senior Matt O'Neil) and five (redshirt senior Mike Corin) hitters each had a pair of hits in the win. Hess and O'Neil both singled and doubled while Corin had a home run and a single. The trio also combined for five RBI and four runs scored.
• Senior Martin Figueroa hit his second home run of the season in the win. He also was walked once and threw out a would-be base stealer to end the fourth inning.
• Sophomore Brett McManus went 2-for-4 with a a double.
• Redshirt junior starting pitcher Taso Stathopoulos (2-1) went six complete innings without allowing a hit. He struck out five and issued just two walks while tossing four 1-2-3 innings.
• Junior Nick Johnson collected his first career save in the win, closing things out with three innings of one-hit ball. 
• Fordham starter Mike Cowell was charged with the loss, giving up four runs on four hits - including back-to-back homers - before being lifted after just two thirds of an inning.

Up Next
Rhody and Fordham return to The Beck for Game 2 of the Atlantic 10 series, Saturday at 1 p.m.