WASHINGTON – VCU scored 10 runs in the first three innings on its way to a 14-3 victory over top-seed Saint Louis Thursday in the 2015 Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Championship.

VCU (35-22) advances to take on Rhode Island at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, with the winner earning a spot in Saturday’s championship round. SLU (35-20) will face Davidson at 1:30 on Friday in an elimination game.

Darian Carpenter led the way at the plate for VCU going 3-for-4 and driving in five runs, including a two-run blast in the seventh inning.

The Rams scored three first inning runs and then scored seven runs in the third inning to go ahead 10-0.

Heath Dwyer was stellar on the mound for VCU going 7.2 innings, striking out five and surrendering.

Clay Smith suffered the loss for Saint Louis after going 1.1 innings and giving up three runs.