Rhode Island Lineup
Cucinotta (CF), Ramirez (2B), Kopack (SS), Genther (LF), DePino (3B), Fortin (1B), Laske (C), Cherry (DH), McCall (RF), Sposato (P)
 
Saint Louis Lineup
Turino (CF), Redding (DH), Fitzgerald (1B), Fogarty (LF), Vierling (2B), Smith (RF), Cusumano (3B), Jansen (C), Happ (SS), Schmitt (P)
 
How it Happened
Rhode Island rallied from five runs down to win in walk-off fashion, beating Saint Louis 9-8 in 10 innings Friday. Anthony DePino delivered a two-out single to drive in Jack Cucinotta as the winning run, giving the Rams (18-30, 12-7 Atlantic 10) their fifth win in the last six games.

After three-and-a-half innings, Rhody trailed 5-0. The Rams got all the way back to 5-4 after eight, but Saint Louis (25-20, 11-7 A-10) scored three runs in the top of the ninth to seemingly end the comeback attempt. URI never quit, scoring four times in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings and set up DePino's heroics.

With SLU already leading 5-0, Rhody finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Alex Ramirez singled to start the inning and moved to third on a double by Addison Kopack. Eric Genther then lofted a fly ball to left that allowed Ramirez to tag up and score.

In the fifth inning, a Kopack sacrifice fly drove in Calvin McCall to cut the deficit to three runs. An inning later, Joe Fortin lined a solo homer to right field to get the Rams within 5-3.

In the bottom of the eighth, Anthony DePino drew a leadoff walk and moved to second when Jordan Laske reached on a one-out walk. Justin Cherry chopped a grounder to second base and Laske was retired at second, but the attempt to double up Cherry at first base got away, allowing DePino to score and make it a one-run game.
 
With a runner on third and one out in the top of the ninth, Rhode Island's Zach Fernandez had a 1-2 count on Redding when Saint Louis head coach Darin Hendrickson asked the umpires to check something on Fernandez. The umpires did not find anything, but Hendrickson's ploy paid off. Redding singled on the next pitch to drive in the runner, and Kyle Fitzgerald hit a two-run homer one pitch later to pad the Saint Louis lead, 8-4.
 
Rhode Island did not go quietly in the bottom of the ninth. Cucinotta led off with a walk and moved to third when Kopack reached on a single up the middle. Genther followed with a walk that loaded the bases with one out for DePino. DePino was robbed of extra bases on a nice backhanded stop by third baseman Cameron Swanger, who threw on to first to get DePino for the second out of the inning. Cucinotta scored on the play.

Fortin then blooped a single to center that drove in Kopack and Genther to get Rhode Island within a run at 8-7. Laske followed with a walk that moved pinch runner David Marchetti into scoring position and Justin Cherry delivered a single through the right side to drive in Marchetti and tie the game at eight apiece. 

Reliever Bryan Kraus took matters into his own hands in the top of the 10th, recording a strikeout and an unassisted putout before ending the frame on a 1-3 play. The Rams then put the game away in the bottom of the inning, on DePino's walk-off single.

Inside the Box Score

• Redshirt sophomore Addison Kopack went 2-for-4 with his team-leading seventh double, one single, one walk, one run batted in and one run scored. With 48 RBI on the season, Kopack has tied Chris Hess (48, 2017) for eighth place on Rhody's single-season RBI list.
• Junior Alex Ramirez doubled, singled twice, was hit by a pitch and scored a run. He also laid down a key sacrifice bunt in the 10th inning.
• Graduate student Joe Fortin hit his third home run of the season, a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. He also singled and drove in three runs.
• Junior Calvin McCall singled and scored one run.
• Freshman Anthony DePino singled, walked, drove in two runs and scored one run.
• Graduate student Jordan Laske had an infield single and was walked twice.
• Graduate student Jack Cucinotta singled twice once to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He also drew a walk and scored two runs.
• Freshman Eric Genther walked and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
• Redshirt senior Justin Cherry singled and drove in one run.
• Senior Bo Brutti gave Rhode Island a stellar outing in relief. He pitched 4.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four batters. His work on the mound made the Rams' late rally possible.
• Freshman Bryan Kraus (1-1) earned his first career win with a scoreless 10th inning.

Up Next
The Rams and Billikens are back in action on Saturday, when the teams return to the Beck for the middle game of the three-game Atlantic 10 series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Prior to the start of the game, there will be a brief ceremony to recognize Rhode Island's seniors, begining at 12:35 p.m.