TYSONS, Va. (Interstat) — The Atlantic 10 baseball championship will feature a rematch of a tense three-game series when seed Rhode Island (24-29) faces seed Saint Joseph’s (35-17) on Thursday evening at the 2026 A-10 tournament.

The Rams and Hawks split their regular-season series last week in Kingston, R.I., with Saint Joseph’s winning two of three games, both in extra innings. Thursday’s opener at the tournament site in Tysons, Va., marks the fourth meeting between the teams in eight days.

Rhode Island enters after a dominant 19-8 victory Wednesday at George Mason, riding a powerful lineup that produced 17 runs in the win. Second baseman Scott Penney leads the Rams’ offense. Over his past 10 games, Penney is hitting .333, including a 4-for-7 performance Wednesday with two home runs and eight RBIs. He also homered in a 14-12 loss to Saint Joseph’s on May 16.

Right fielder Jack Hopko went 5-for-5 with three RBIs against George Mason.

Saint Joseph’s, which earned a first-round bye as the seed, last played May 16, when it beat Rhode Island 14-12. Third baseman Richard Beggy starred in that win, going 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. Beggy has struggled at times this season but delivered key hits in both wins over the Rams, including a two-RBI game in a 10-9, 11-inning victory on May 14.

Peter Bashore pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in that May 16 win for the Hawks.

The series history favors Saint Joseph’s, which won the first two meetings before Rhode Island avoided the sweep with a 4-3, 10-inning win on May 15. The Hawks’ pitching staff held the Rams to four runs or fewer in two of the three games, though Rhode Island scored 12 in the series finale.

Rhode Island also posted a 10-4 record in its past 14 games, with Penney and first baseman Jack Lanning providing consistent thump. The Rams defeated Davidson twice in a three-game set earlier this month, scoring 17 runs in each win.

Saint Joseph’s survived a tough series against VCU, losing twice before winning the finale 6-4. The Hawks have relied on a deep bullpen and timely hitting from Beggy, left fielder Joey Pagano and catcher Ryan Taylor.

First pitch is set for 7 p.m. The winner advances in the double-elimination tournament.