BRONX, N.Y. – Ignited by a third-inning Emily Power grand slam, and reinforced by a series of costly Fordham errors throughout, sixth-seeded Rhode Island stamped the program's first postseason victory in over two decades behind an offensively-driven 9-6 decision over the host Rams Wednesday evening at Bahoshy Field in the opening day finale of the Atlantic 10 Softball Championship.

Despite dropping the early midday contest to No. 3 overall Dayton, URI managed to keep the team's postseason hopes alive with the three-run win, earning a right to face the lowest-seeded loser of the quarterfinals – No. 1 Saint Louis-No. 4 George Mason and No. 2 Loyola Chicago-No. 3 Dayton – in Thursday evening's nightcap at 5 p.m.

Fordham's Bailey Enoch got the scoring started off early in the matchup, drilling a two-run bomb over the deep center-field wall for the early lead. Rhody would offer an emphatic response, however, with six-score third frame, all launched by a leadoff triple from Hannah Hernandez who returned home an at-bat later off an RBI single from Rachel Zingerman.

A fielder's choice, a single, a fly out and a walk later, the bases are loaded. First, a hit-by-pitch evens the score at two apiece, but then in steps Power, who proceeds to knock out her first home run of the season, a high shot to left center, into the netting over the scoreboard.

Enoch responded with some power of her own in the bottom of the frame, blasting her second dinger of the day to nearly the exact same location, this time for three runs as Fordham entered the fourth trailing by just one.

Undeterred, Rhody took advantage of five Fordham errors during the next half inning to surge back to a four-run edge, as consistent throwing or slight fielding miscues offered second life to the URI offensive efforts. An RBI single for the host Rams in the bottom of the fourth failed to narrow the gap much closer.

In the circle, Rhode Island leaned on Liz Lynchard intially for 3.0 frames of work before Katie Zaun (8-11) took over for the final 4.0 innings. The duo surrendered a total seven hits with all six runs credited to the former. Zaun notably set down five batters on strikes as well.

For Fordham, Devon Miller (6-9) chalked up the loss after handling the opening 2.2 innings before Holly Beeman stepped in for the final 4.1 frames.