SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — Rhode Island defeated Saint Joseph’s 4-3 in 10 innings Friday afternoon at Bill Beck Field, snapping a tense tie with a walk-off walk in the bottom of the 10th.

The Rams improved to 23-28 overall and 10-15 in the Atlantic 10. The Hawks fell to 34-17 and 16-9.

Rhode Island took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. After Ryan Thompson singled, Jack Hopko homered to deep right field, scoring Thompson and putting the Rams ahead 2-0. Saint Joseph’s had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when the first three batters reached base on a groundout, a double and a passed ball, but the Hawks managed only one run in the frame.

Saint Joseph’s tied the game in the fifth when Joey Pagano homered to deep right field. The score remained 3-3 until the decisive 10th.

The Rams’ Jake Cullen earned top star honors with a strong relief performance, throwing 5.1 innings, allowing two hits, one earned run and striking out four. Cullen’s outing was a sharp rebound from his previous appearance May 8 at Davidson, when he recorded only two outs and allowed nine earned runs.

Rhode Island’s Joe Sabbath earned the win with two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out two. Parker Aikens worked two innings, allowing one earned run on no hits with one strikeout. For Saint Joseph’s, Cole Fehrman started and went five innings, allowing three earned runs on no hits with five strikeouts. Justin Sweeney and Christian Coppola each threw two scoreless, hitless innings with two strikeouts. Sam Greer took the loss, recording only one out while allowing an unearned run on a walk-off walk.

Hopko finished 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Thompson was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Pagano was 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI for the Hawks.

The game featured only three hits for Saint Joseph’s. Rhode Island totaled seven hits.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the 10th. With the score tied 3-3, Greer entered in relief. He walked King to lead off the inning. Connolly then reached on a fielder’s choice on a sacrifice bunt, but an error by left fielder Pagano allowed King to advance to third base. Leikus was intentionally walked to load the bases. Botti fouled out for the second out. Henschel then walked on four pitches, forcing in King with the unearned winning run.

The victory avenged a 10-9, 11-inning loss to Saint Joseph’s on Thursday. The two teams meet again Saturday at Bill Beck Field.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Saint Joseph’s 8, Rhode Island 7. Interstat’s ELO system gave Rhode Island a 52.40 percent probability to win.