PHILADELPHIA – Catcher Tatem Levins hit the go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the La Salle University baseball team to an 8-5 win over Rhode Island in its Atlantic 10 Conference opener on Friday from Hank DeVincent Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Explorers jumped ahead in the first inning as sophomore Elijah Dickerson drove in classmate Connor Coolahan on an RBI fielder's choice to make it 1-0.
• Rhode Island evened the score at one all in the second inning on a bases-loaded walk, but starting pitcher Colin Scanlon held the Rams in check over the first four innings.
• The Rams broke through with a three-run homer in the fifth though and added another run in the sixth to jump in front 5-1.
• La Salle came back within striking distance in the seventh thanks to Dickerson, who delivered a three-run double down the left field line to bring the Explorers within a run, 5-4.
• Senior Alfonse Sadallah tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a bunt single, scoring redshirt sophomore Nick Di Vietro on a throwing error.
• Two batters later, Levins stepped to the plate with two men and two outs, driving an 0-2 pitch deep over the wall in right center field to give La Salle an 8-5 lead.
• Senior Colin Kennedy entered in relief in the top of the eighth and came back out for the ninth, where he earned all three outs by strikeout to seal the victory and pick up his second win of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Dickerson went 2-for-5 with four RBI and a double, while Levins also went 2-for-5.
• Scanlon, Kennedy and senior James Kelly combined for 14 strikeouts on the mound. Kennedy allowed just one hit over two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
• It's the first time La Salle has won its Atlantic 10 opener since 2013 when it beat Fordham, 4-2.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers and Rams will play a doubleheader at Hank DeCinvent Field on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.