FINAL: VCU 3 (24-17, 7-6 A10), Rhode Island 7 (16-16-1, 9-4 A10)

LOCATION:  Estes Park (Randolph-Macon College) – Ashland, Va.

VCU STARTERS: Farrar (CF), Bunn (LF), Davis (3B), Machin (SS), Carpenter (1B), Hileman (DH), Acker (RF), Haymaker (C), Berezo (2B), Howie (SP)

RHODE ISLAND STARTERS: Caputo (SS), Olmo (RF), Hess (2B), Taveres (3B), Corin (1B), Gardella (DH), DeRegis (LF), Powell (CF), Livingston (C),Distasio (SP)

THE BASICS: Rhode Island tagged VCU pitchers for 15 hits over the course of Friday afternoon's game and walked away with a 7-3 victory. On the VCU side Brett Hileman blasted the first home run of his career to give his team an early lead and Tyler Buckley came in for 1.1 IP and shut down the URI offense during his stint on the mound. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The top part of the VCU order got things going early today on offense. Logan Farrar tripled to deep centerfield to lead off the bottom of the first and James Bunn promptly singled into right field to score Farrar.
• Brett Hileman proceeded to take the first pitch of the bottom of the second inning deep to right field to give VCU a 2-0 lead. It was Hileman's first home run of the season.
• Rhode Island got a run back in the fourth inning to cut the deficit in half and then jumped ahead in the top of the sixth with a three-run home run to right field.
• Despite already being up heading into the top of the ninth, the visiting Rams did not take it easy on the host Rams. Rhode Island brought in another run in the final frame after a bases loaded walk, putting the score at 7-2. Up until that last inning neither team had issued a walk.
• VCU wouldn't go down without a fight though as Hileman drove in another run with a double off the wall to bring in Vimael Machin and put the score at 7-3. Unfortunately the score would hold as the final and the Rams would lose the series opener.

UP NEXT: The VCU Rams will face the URI Rams again tomorrow, Saturday, at 2 pm.