Score: Rhode Island 5, VCU 4
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 4-13 (0-1 A-10), Rhode Island 9-8 (1-0 A-10)
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THE SHORT STORY: VCU fell short of a ninth-inning rally as Rhode Island stranded a pair of VCU runners leading by just a run to open conference play at The Diamond Friday night.
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LEADING OFF:
- Jacob Lee his team leading fourth home run and tallied his eighth two-hit game of the year
- Owen Tappy fanned a career high five in his 5.1 scoreless innings of work, giving up just four hits and one walk
- Spencer Sullivan had a pair of base knocks
- A pair of sacrifice flies from Sean Swenson and Casey Kleinman scored two of VCU's runs in the contest
- VCU struck out just four times and collected eight hits and five base on balls
- Rhode Island had a one-hit advantage, totaling nine, and drew three walks
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Nick Flores had his third leadoff hit of the season, returning to the one-hole
- Rhode Island got on the board first with back-to-back home runs in the top of the third inning
- VCU had an answer in the bottom of the frame as Adelman knocked a double and came home on a sacrifice fly by Sean Swenson
- Jacob Lee pulled his fourth home run of the year 393 feet towards the circus tent in left field to score the go-ahead run, 3-2
- URI added a two-piece in the fourth inning, aided by free passes from the home Rams
- In the sixth inning, VCU started their comeback attempt as Casey Kleinman scored Will Henson on a sacrifice fly
- Tappy continued his dominant outing through the ninth, finishing with just four hits allowed over five innings, holding it to a one-run game for VCU
- Leaving five on base in the final three frames, including the tying run in scoring position in the ninth, VCU fell a run short of the comeback
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UP NEXT:
VCU concludes its first Atlantic 10 weekend series with the final contests of its 12-game homestand, hosting Rhode Island for a doubleheader Saturday, March 15, beginning at 1 p.m. Then, VCU will take to the road for a midweek against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., on Tuesday, March 25.