How It Happened
Rhode Island (5-12, 1-1 Atlantic 10) split its conference-opening doubleheader with Dayton (5-12, 1-1 A-10) Wednesday, getting a complete-game effort from freshman Cameron Whiteford to win the night cap. Rhody won the second game 9-3 after falling in the opener, 10-1

Game 1 – Dayton 10, Rhode Island 1
Two big innings were the difference in the first game of the day, as Dayton scored four times in the top of the third and five more in the seventh inning. Rhody got the first run of the game in the second inning when Ari Castillo and Jessica Hennelly executed a double steal with one out in the inning. Pitcher Kelsey Gumm silenced the URI bats for the most part, allowing just two singles over the course of five innings to earn her first win of the year.

Game 2 – Rhode Island 9, Dayton 3
The Rams jumped out early, scoring four times in the bottom of the first inning. Sami Villarreal started the rally with a double, advanced on a bunt single by Skyler Rapuano and scored on a wild pitch. After Ari Castillo reached on an error to put runners on the corners, Rapuano came in on the second wild pitch of the frame. The Rams added another run when Castillo and Rachel Zingerman executed a double steal that brought Castillo home. Zingerman also eventually came around for the early 4-1 lead.

Villarreal padded the lead with an RBI single in the second inning that drove in Emily Power. URI scored four more times in the sixth, with the big hit being a two-run double by Rapuano.

Cameron Whiteford took care of the rest, delivering her first complete game of her career.

Inside the Box Scores

• Freshman Cameron Whiteford (1-1) hurled a complete game to earn her first collegiate victory. She scattered 10 hits and allowed just two earned runs while striking out five batters.
• The nine runs in the second game were the most for Rhody in a game this season.
• With the victory, Rhode Island already has matched its win total from last season. The Rams were 5-22 in 2021, reaching five wins 10 games faster this season.
• Junior Skyler Rapuano delivered three hits in the second game with a double and two singles. It was the second three-hit game by a Ram this season.
• Senior Sami Villarreal had a double and single in the second game and hitting a team-high .320 for the season.
• Rhode Island had four stolen in the two games and is 18-of-21 as a team.
• Senior Ari Castillo and junior Gabi Lopez each had a single in the first game, accounting for URI's only hits.
• Freshman Emily Power reached base three times and had a sacrifice bunt in six plate appearances. She walked twice in the opener and added a single, the sacrifice and a run scored in the second contest.
• Sophomore Maddie Melice drew a walk as a pinch hitter in Game One, then drove in a run and scored once in the second game.
• Junior Rachel Zingerman tripled, walked and scored two runs in the second game.
• In the series finale, the Rams will look to win back-to-back games for the first time since the fifth and sixth games of the 2020 season, when URI won at Charlotte and against North Carolina A&T at the First Pitch Classic.

What's Next
Rhode Island and Dayton close out the three-game series Thursday morning with a single contest beginning at 11:30 a.m. The start time was pushed up due to rain expected in the area Thursday afternoon.