The Rhode Island Rams opened the 2026 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship with a commanding 19‑8 win over the George Mason Patriots, a game that featured a barrage of power hitting and a flurry of runs across multiple innings.
Rhode Island’s offense exploded for five runs in the top of the third, sparked by a lead‑off solo home run from sophomore Scott Penney. The surge continued as the Rams added six more runs in the sixth, highlighted by Penney’s bases‑clearing triple that pushed the lead to 13‑3.
A Power Surge in the Third
Penney finished the game 4‑for‑7 with two home runs, eight RBI and four runs scored, while teammate Jack Hopko went 5‑for‑5 with three RBI. The Rams finished with 20 hits, scoring in six different innings and distributing the offense across five players who recorded multiple hits.
George Mason answered in the bottom of the third and fourth with runs of their own, including an RBI single by Evan Blanchard and a groundout that scored Jackson Morse. However, the Patriots’ rally was short‑lived as Rhode Island’s pitching staff settled the game.
Starter Jake Drumm, one of six pitchers the Patriots employed, took the loss after surrendering eight hits and six runs. In relief, Parker Aikens tossed 2.1 innings, striking out three while allowing just one run.
What’s Next for the Rams
Rhode Island now turns its attention to a Thursday showdown with top‑seeded Saint Joseph’s, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. The Rams will look to carry the momentum from their explosive offensive display into a matchup against a team that finished the regular season with a strong pitching staff.
Meanwhile, the Patriots fall into the consolation bracket and will play an elimination game Wednesday evening, hoping to rebound from a performance that saw them led offensively by Jake Butler and Morse, each collecting two hits.