RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — Virginia Commonwealth broke open a tie game with a seven-run seventh inning and rolled past Saint Joseph’s 13-3 on Friday in a game suspended by rain the previous night and completed Saturday morning.

The Rams (35-23) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before a downpour forced a suspension after the first out of the bottom of the first. The game resumed at 9 a.m. Saturday with Saint Joseph’s (36-19) holding a 3-2 lead from a three-run top of the first that included a walk, a hit batter, a wild pitch and a pair of strikeouts.

When play resumed, the Hawks added a run in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Dickinson, giving them a 3-2 edge. That lead held until the bottom of the sixth, when VCU tied it on a double by Warden that scored Lee. The inning ended with Patrick thrown out at the plate.

The seventh inning proved decisive. VCU sent 14 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on five hits, two walks, two hit batters and a Saint Joseph’s error. After a leadoff single by Adelman and a single by DeFranco, Petite walked to load the bases. Lethert walked to force in the tying run, and Lee walked to give VCU the lead. Flores singled to make it 6-3, and after a strikeout, Maher was hit by a pitch to force in another run. Warden was then hit by a pitch to make it 8-3. DeFranco cleared the bases with a triple, scoring three runs, and Petite singled to drive in DeFranco. The inning’s final run came on a dropped third strike that allowed Petite to score from third.

VCU added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth, but the outcome was already decided. Saint Joseph’s managed only a pair of singles in the final three innings and finished with seven hits.

VCU’s bullpen held the Hawks to one run over the final 5 1/3 innings. Everett Vaughan started and allowed two runs on two hits over three innings, striking out six. Patrick Steitz worked 3 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts. Zach Peters recorded four outs, allowing two hits but no runs. Christian Coppola was a bright spot for Saint Joseph’s, pitching 4 1/3 hitless innings with seven strikeouts in relief. But the Hawks’ pitching faltered in the seventh, with Andrew Gaines taking the loss after allowing two earned runs without recording an out.

The Rams outhit Saint Joseph’s 10-7. DeFranco led VCU with a triple and three RBIs. Petite had two hits and two RBIs. Warden doubled and drove in two runs. For the Hawks, Kelsey had two hits and an RBI, and Dickinson homered.

The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for VCU, which had lost three of its previous four games. Saint Joseph’s dropped its second straight after a 17-9 loss to Rhode Island on Thursday.

The teams met for the fourth time this season, with VCU winning for the third time. The Rams previously defeated the Hawks 19-5 on May 10 and 9-6 on May 8. Saint Joseph’s lone win in the series came on May 8, a 6-4 decision.

VCU next plays at Rhode Island on Friday, while Saint Joseph’s travels to Tysons, Virginia, to face George Mason.