How It Happened
Rhode Island earned its first three-game series sweep against Atlantic 10 competition by blanking St. Bonaventure 3-0 behind a two-hit shutout by Liz Lynchard Sunday afternoon. The Rams (9-23, 4-10 Atlantic 10) won their fourth consecutive game, the team's longest win streak in three seasons.

Lynchard (6-16) was dominant once again in the circle, earning her third victory of the week. The only two hits she allowed were singles, and St. Bonaventure (7-25, 1-14 A-10) did not get a runner past second base against her.

Rhode Island provided the only run Lynchard needed in the bottom of the first. Rachel Zingerman led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. She came in when Cassie Swenson reached on an infield single.

The Rams added two insurance runs in the third inning. Caitlin O'Leary reached on a one-out single and moved up one base when Swenson walked. Ari Castillo brought O'Leary home with a single through the right side that also moved Swenson over to third. Swenson came home when Vicki Viaclovsky reached on a fielder's choice.
 
Inside the Box Scores

• The three-game sweep was the first for Rhode Island since the Rams took three straight against Saint Louis in 2017.
• The first four batters in the Rhode Island lineup – Rachel Zingerman, Caitlin O'Leary, Cassie Swenson and Ari Castillo – combined for seven of the team's eight hits and all three runs scored.
• Zingerman continued her hot streak with three hits in as many at bats. She had a double and two singles and now has multiple hits in four straight games to raise her batting average to .301.
• Caitlin O'Leary had a single and a run scored. She extended her hitting streak to six games, raising her batting average by 162 points in the process.
• Cassie Swenson singled twice, walked, scored once and drove in one run. She has scored three runs over the last four games.
• Ari Castillo had a single and one RBI. Over the three-game series, she had six hits, six RBI and three runs scored.
• Jessica Hennelly had a single in three at bats to raise her batting average to a season-high .289. Over her last four games she is 7-for-12 (.583).
• The shutout was the second of the season for Rhode Island, both by Liz Lynchard.
• In five appearances this week, Lynchard was 3-1 with one save, a 3.40 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 22.2 innings of work.
• With its ninth win of the season, Rhode Island has matched the win total of 2020 and 2021 combined. Over those two seasons, the Rams were 9-38.

What's Next
Rhode Island has a single non-conference game at Connecticut on Tuesday, April 12. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.