RICHMOND, Va. – Despite an early three-run deficit, second-seeded Davidson utilized a cluster of power hitting down the stretch to complete a successful rally against No. 7 Rhode Island to win 8-4 in the Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship opening round Tuesday afternoon at The Diamond.

With the win, the Wildcats (30-22) lock down a position in the second round of the winner's bracket, setting up a matchup against  No. 6 George Mason Wednesday, at 3:00 pm. Rhody (23-28) drops into the consolation bracket and will face No. 5 Richmond in an elimination game Wednesday.

URI was in the driver's seat early with three first-inning runs from the Rams, including a two-run home run by Billy Butler. But Davidson rallied with two runs of their own the first, followed by a single run in the fourth and fifth innings. First-inning RBI singles by Michael Carico and Henry Koehler tied the game, scoring Jacob Friend and Carico himself. Bulter's dinger pushed Michael Anderson home and Mark Coley singled to score Anthony DePino in the top half of the inning.

A Jacob Hinderleider solo home run and a Koehler RBI single that agian scored Carico were the 'Cats fourth and fifth inning scores. But Rhody tied the game in the sixth with a sacrifice fly by Nicholas Toro that plated Addison Kopack from third.

Davidson retook the lead with a pair of runs in the seventh and in the eighth. Nick Calero scored Ryan WIlson on a groundout and Hinderleider drove in Michael O'Shaughnessy in the seventh. O'Shaughnessy scored Friend on an single and the Koeler-Carico connection closed out the eighth inning scoring for the Wildcats.

WInning pitcher Bennett Flynn (5-1) allowed three hits and three earned runs with four walks and an impressive 11 strikeouts in four innings. Ryan Andrade (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on two hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings.

Wilson was 3-for-3 to lead Davidson, one of four players with multiple hits. Koeler tallied three RBI. Coley was 2-for-3 to lead the Rams, and Butler recorded two RBI.