RICHMOND (Interstat) — Cooper Campbell pitched five innings of one-run ball and Alec Warden drove in two runs as VCU defeated Rhode Island 9-1 on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series.

VCU scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break open a 1-1 tie and added two more unearned runs in the eighth. Trent Adelman hit a two-run home run in the fourth, and Nick Flores finished with three hits and an RBI for the home Rams, who improved to 37-23. Rhode Island fell to 26-31.

The visiting Rams took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when no runs actually scored; the play-by-play shows a strikeout, groundout, single and flyout without a run. The scoreboard remained 0-0 until the bottom of the second, when an error allowed Nate Kirkpatrick to reach and later score on a double play groundout by Adelman, knotting the game at 1-1.

Rhode Island threatened in the top of the third with a single, a caught stealing and a walk, but left a runner on base. The game remained tied until the VCU bats erupted in the fourth.

Flores led off the bottom of the fourth with a double down the left-field line. Kirkpatrick walked, and a sacrifice bunt by Jack Maher advanced both runners. Warden then singled through the left side, driving in Flores and Kirkpatrick to make it 3-1. Adelman followed with a home run to deep left field, scoring Warden and extending the lead to 5-1.

After a pitching change, Micah Petite doubled and moved to third on an error during a failed pickoff attempt. A walk to Connor Lethert and a single by Dylan Lee drove in Petite, and Flores followed with an RBI single that plated Lethert, pushing the lead to 7-1. Rhode Island starter Jake Cullen was charged with four earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, taking the loss.

VCU added two more runs in the eighth on a throwing error by Rhode Island second baseman Blake Penney that allowed Petite to score, and an RBI single by Kirkpatrick that scored Lee.

Campbell, who entered the game in the fifth inning, allowed one earned run on six hits and struck out one over five innings to earn the win. He retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced. Dawson Newman tossed three scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out two, and Fenix DiGiacomo pitched a scoreless ninth. For Rhode Island, Braden Perry threw four hitless innings with one strikeout, but the offense could not overcome the early deficit.

Rhode Island’s only run came in the top of the eighth, when Connor Hopko singled to shallow left field to score Tyler Henschel. The visitors left six runners on base in the game.

The series had featured high-scoring affairs the previous two days, with VCU winning 18-16 on Saturday and Rhode Island taking a 5-4 decision Friday. Sunday’s game saw far less offense, as VCU’s pitching staff combined to hold Rhode Island to eight hits while striking out six.

Warden went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Flores also had three hits, and Lee contributed two hits and an RBI. Petite reached base three times with two hits and a walk. For Rhode Island, Braden Moroney had two hits and Hopko drove in the lone run.

The game was played in the afternoon at VCU’s home field. Neither team announced any betting lines or over-under figures for the contest.