Preview: Saint Joseph’s at Rhode Island, Saturday, May 16, 2026

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — The Atlantic 10 regular-season series between Saint Joseph’s and Rhode Island comes to a close Saturday afternoon at Bill Beck Field, with postseason implications hanging in the balance amid a forecast of rain and temperatures near 59 degrees.

Saint Joseph’s (34-17) enters with the conference’s best record, but the Hawks have been tested by the Rams (23-28) in a pair of extra-inning thrillers. Rhode Island won 4-3 in 10 innings Friday, after Saint Joseph’s prevailed 10-9 in 11 innings on Thursday. The teams have combined for 26 runs and 21 innings in two games, setting up a rubber match that could affect seeding for the Atlantic 10 tournament.

The Hawks will likely turn to right-hander Cole Fehrman, who took the loss Friday despite allowing no hits over five innings. Fehrman walked three and struck out five, but three earned runs (Interstat) — all on a pair of home runs (Interstat) — proved costly. Over his last five outings, Fehrman has a 3.88 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 23⅔ innings, including a dominant eight-inning, two-hit shutout against Saint Bonaventure on May 2.

Rhode Island counters with junior righty Jake Cullen, who earned the win Friday with 5⅓ innings of two-hit, one-run ball. Cullen struck out four and walked two. He has been inconsistent this season (Interstat) — he allowed nine earned runs in a 17-16 win at Davidson on May 8 (Interstat) — but has a 2.70 ERA over his other three May starts, all victories.

Offensively, the Rams have relied on power. Jack Hopko hit a home run and drove in two in Friday’s win. Rhode Island’s lineup has scored 17 runs three times in its past six games, but also has been held to five or fewer in four of its past seven losses.

Saint Joseph’s bats have been potent as well. The Hawks scored 15 runs at La Salle on April 24 and 17 against George Mason on April 18. But they managed only three runs Friday and nine Thursday despite 11 innings.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 7-6 Saint Joseph’s win, but the ELO system gives Rhode Island a 53 percent chance to prevail.

First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., though rain is likely. The game is the finale of a three-game series that has already delivered drama (Interstat) — and perhaps more to come.