How It Happened
Rhode Island (0-2) opened its season with a pair of losses on the first day of the Bob Heck Classic in Georgia. The Rams fell to Eastern Kentucky 5-3 in the first game, then dropped a 6-1 decision to Purdue Fort Wayne.

Game 1 – Eastern Kentucky 5, Rhode Island 3
A two-run home run in the top of the seventh by Jeaney Riley lifted Eastern Kentucky (5-1) over URI in the season opener for the Rams. With Maggie Pertee on second with nobody out, Riley lifted a home run to right field to provide the winning margin.

Rhode Island held a 3-1 lead through four innings, but the Colonels rallied for two runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game. With two outs and runners on first and second, Lou Bowers singled up the middle to drive in Madison Scott. Pertee later came in on a wild pitch to tie the score.

Rhody struck first in the bottom of the first. Rachel Zingerman led off with a walk and stole second base. She later scored from second base on a fly out by Susan Harrison. After Eastern Kentucky tied the score in the top of the second, Rhody came right back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Skyler Rapuano began the inning with a walk and moved to second on a Cassie Swenson single. Zingerman drove in both with a triple to right center, but those were the final runs of the game for the Rams.

Game 2 – Purdue Fort Wayne 6, Rhode Island 1
Grace Hollopeter hit a pair of two-run home runs to power Purdue Fort Wayne (1-6) to its first win of the season. Rhody's Rachel Zingerman got one run back with a solo blast of her own in the bottom of the fourth. Purdue Fort Wayne pitcher Alanah Jones scattered six hits and struck out seven in a complete-game performance.

Inside the Box Scores

• Senior Rachel Zingerman factored in all four runs Rhode Island scored on the day. She finished with a home run, triple, two runs scored, three runs batted in, one walk a stolen base.
• Senior Skyler Rapuano reached safely four times in seven plate appearances. She doubled, singled, walked twice and scored a run.
• Senior Cassie Swenson and freshman Casey Miller each singled once in both games. Swenson also scored a run and had a sacrifice bunt.
• In the game against Eastern Kentucky, senior Liz Lynchard pitched 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. She struck out three batters and walked one.
• Junior Elena Gonzalez singled in her Rhode Island debut.
• Freshman Kylie Bulinski made her collegiate debut as a pinch hitter against Eastern Kentucky and delivered a single.
• Sophomore Katie Zaun (0-1) appeared in both games, including a start against Purdue Fort Wayne. In 7.0 innings of work, she allowed three earned runs while striking out 10 batters without any walks.

What's Next
Rhode Island plays a pair of games at the Bob Heck Classic on Saturday. The Rams play Purdue Fort Wayne at 12:30 p.m. and then host Georgia State at 5:30 p.m.