RICHMOND (Interstat) — Nick Flores drove in four runs, including a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning, as VCU defeated Davidson 9-7 in an Atlantic 10 game Friday afternoon.

The Rams improved to 31-22 overall, while the Wildcats fell to 25-25.

Flores finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs. His two-run single in the first inning put VCU ahead 2-0, and his eighth-inning double broke a 7-7 tie after Davidson had rallied to knot the score.

Michael Petite added two RBIs on a 2-for-3 day, including a two-run single in the second inning. Alec Warden drove in a run and stole a base.

Davidson took an early lead in the top of the first on an RBI single by Hall, but VCU answered immediately. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the first, Flores lined a two-run single to left field. The Rams added two more in the second on Petite’s two-run single and another run on a balk, taking a 5-0 lead.

The Wildcats chipped away. In the third, Hall’s RBI single cut the deficit to 5-1. VCU pushed the lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by DeFranco.

Davidson mounted a five-run rally in the fifth. Vannoy singled and stole second, then moved to third on a balk. After an RBI groundout by Manjooran, Lietz singled, Rice drove in a run with a single, and Loughlin added an RBI single that became a two-base error by Flores, allowing two more runs to score. The inning ended with Davidson trailing 6-6.

VCU regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Flores singled, advanced to third on a bunt single by Kirkpatrick and scored on Warden’s RBI single to left field, putting the Rams ahead 7-6.

Davidson tied the game in the top of the eighth. Vannoy singled and stole second, but the Wildcats could not push across a run, and the score remained 7-7.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Lethert singled, and after a pitching change, Lee singled to put runners at first and second. Flores then doubled to left-center, scoring both runners and giving VCU a 9-7 lead.

Davidson threatened in the ninth. Manjooran was hit by a pitch, Lietz singled, and Loughlin singled to load the bases with one out. But Rams reliever Zach Peters struck out Fritch and Vannoy to end the game.

Peters earned the win with 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing one hit and one earned run while striking out seven. Elias Holbert started for VCU and went 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and four earned runs with seven strikeouts. Cooper Weygandt struck out three in a scoreless inning.

For Davidson, Simon Yochum pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings with no hits allowed. Brycen Champey allowed one earned run in 1 1/3 innings, and Will Marenghi gave up two earned runs in two innings. Will Banks took the loss, allowing one earned run in one-third of an inning.

Davidson managed nine hits, with Vannoy collecting two singles and two stolen bases. Rice and Loughlin each drove in a run. VCU had 10 hits, with Flores and Petite leading the way. The Rams grounded into two double plays.

The victory gave VCU its second straight win over Davidson, following a 10-0 shutout Thursday. The teams meet again Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Davidson 6, VCU 8, and Interstat’s ELO system gave VCU a 63.30 percent probability to win.