How It Happened
Rhode Island got a strong complete-game effort from freshman Ashley Hibbard, but the Rams were on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel in a 2-1 loss at San Jose State Friday night.

Hibbard - who recorded her first career complete game - allowed just three hits over the course of her outing. Two of them came with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Karizma Bergesen tripled and Arianna Miranda followed with a double to drive her in with the eventual winning run.

The host Spartans (8-13) got their first run without the benefit of a hit. Graham walked, Ahmiya Noriega was hit bit a pitch and Adrianna Noriega drew a one-out walk to load the bases. A Bergesen sacrifice fly drove in Alyssa Graham, but Hibbard got out of the frame without further damage.

Hibbard then settled in, retiring 10 of the next 11 batters, with the lone exception being an infield single. She allowed a walk in the fifth inning, but Hibbard was otherwise unscathed until the back-to-back hits in the sixth by Bergesen and Miranda.

Unfortunately, a quartet of San Jose State pitchers kept the URI offense quiet for most of the game. Ashley Goard and Farrah Steffany each pitched 2.0 scoreless innings. Rhody finally broke through with a run against Ashley Legler in her third inning of work when Elena Gonzalez singled and advanced when Kylie Bulinski reached on a fielder's choice. An error allowed Gonzalez to get to third, giving the Rams runners on the corners with no outs.

Lacie Ham came on and induced a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Becca Zawistowksi that drove in Gonzalez. Ham then got a flyout and groundout to end the game.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island only managed to get its leadoff batter on one time. That was in the seventh inning, when Elena Gonzalez singled and eventually came around to score URI's lone run.
• The run was the seventh of the season for Gonzalez, who leads the Rams in the category.
• Freshman Casey Miller was hitless, but she did reach via a walk. She has reached safely in seven straight games.
• Senior Skyler Rapuano had a single and a walk, extending her hitting streak to five straight games.
• Senior Rachel Zingerman had a single.
• Defensively Rhode Island did not commit an error in either game it played Friday. That marks the first time this season URI has played consecutive errorless games.
• Rhode Island has played four consecutive one-run games. Since the start of last season, 33 percent (19 of 58) of URI's games have been of the one-run variety.

What's Next
Rhode Island will play twice on Saturday. The Rams play Cal State Northridge at 3 p.m. EST before getting a rematch with San Jose State at 8 p.m. EST. The latter game will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.