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

George Mason Lineup
Smith (SS), Sturek (CF), Acker (LF), Driscoll (RF), Kelly (DH), Nelin (C), Popatek (1B), Aponte (2B), Callahan (3B), Zombro (P)

How it Happened
Freshman Sonny Ulliana hit a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead Rhode Island to its 10th straight win, a 4-3 victory over George Mason in the first of two games Friday. The 10-game winning streak is the longest for the Rams since a 12-game run during the 2005 season.

Rhode Island (29-16, 17-4 Atlantic 10) entered the eighth trailing 3-2, redshirt freshman Justin Jewell delivered a two-out pinch hit infield single. Redshirt senior Jesse Lee came on to run for Jewell, and Ulliana hit his first career home run, launching a long ball to left field.

George Mason (22-29, 10-9 A-10) got its first two runners on to start the ninth with a single and a hit batsman. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. The next batter hit a grounder to second base, and redshirt junior Chris Hess made the defensive play of the game, fielding the ball and throwing out the lead runner at the plate. Another hit batter loaded the bases with two outs, but a fly out ended the contest.

Inside the Box Score

• Freshman Sonny Ulliana delivered his third three-hit performance of the season. He had a home run, two singles, one run scored and two runs batted in.
• Redshirt senior Matt O'Neil singled twice and drove in one run. The RBI was his 50th of the season, giving him the fifth most in a single season in program history.
• Sophomore Brett McManus singled twice and drove in a run.
• Redshirt senior Mike Corin, junior Mike Foley, sophomore Kevin Heiss and redshirt freshman Justin Jewell each singled once.
• Redshirt junior Chris Hess and junior Jordan Powell both singled as well, in addition to scoring one run each.
• Redshirt senior Jesse Lee scored once, after entering the game as a pinch runner.
• Redshirt junior Matt Murphy gave the Rams another strong outing despite not getting a decision. Murphy pitched 7.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits. He also struck out four batters.
• Redshirt senior Blaise Whitman (4-1) picked up the win with .2 scoreless innings of work. The victories mark a career high for Whitman, who lowered his earned run average to 1.50.
• Redshirt junior Tyler Barss got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the ninth to record his 11th save of the season. It was the 25th career save, extending his own program record.

What's Next
Rhode Island and George Mason will play the second game of the doubleheader Friday afternoon.