How it Happened
A five-run seventh inning gave Rhode Island the boost it needed to knock off Mercer 7-4 in the middle game of the three-game series Saturday afternoon.

The Rams (2-3) led 2-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning when Jack Hopko hit an 0-2 pitch to left field for his first career home run. After the Hopko shot, Mark Coley worked a walk and Eric Genther moved him along with a single. Addison Kopack singled up the middle to drive in Coley. A double play ball put Genther on third with two down, and Anthony DePino brought him in with an infield single. Alex Ramirez then launched his first homer of the season, a two-run blast to right that put URI ahead 7-1.

Mercer (5-2) got one run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to cut into the deficit. However, Jon Morrison pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the second victory of the year for Rhode Island.

Inside the Box Score

• Junior Trystan Levesque (2-0) earned his second win in as many starts by allowing just one run on four hits over five innings. He fanned six and was efficient, completing 5.0 innings of work on 67 pitches.
• Redshirt senior Bo Brutti had his second scoreless appearance of the weekend out of the bullpen.
• Redshirt junior Alex Ramirez drove in three runs to lead the offense. In addition to his two-run homer, he walked with the bases loaded to pick up an RBI in the fourth inning.
• Redshirt senior Mark Coley extended his hitting streak to five games with a single, walk and one run scored. He also was hit by a pitch.
• Redshirt junior Addison Kopack delivered a multi-hit game, as he singled twice, scored once and had one RBI.
• Sophomore Anthony DePino also had two singles, one run scored and one RBI.
• Freshman Michael Anderson was 1-for-3 with a single, walk and RBI.
• The Rams have scored at least seven runs in three of their five games this season.

Up Next
Rhode Island and Mercer wrap up the three-game series Sunday at 11 a.m.