How It Happened
Rhode Island (4-15, 1-1 Atlantic 10) won its Atlantic 10 opener for the first time in seven seasons, winning 3-2 at George Washington in the first of two games Sunday afternoon. The Colonials (10-7, 1-1 A-10) - who won the regular season A-10 title a year ago - came back to take the nightcap 9-0.

Game 1 - Rhode Island 3, George Washington 2
Liz Lynchard pitched a complete-game and Skyler Rapuano factored in all three runs as the Rams came from behind to win the opener.

George Washington struck first in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of a walk and hit batsman. Maggie Greco drew a one-out walk and stole second. With two outs, Emma Fales was hit by a pitch, and Daniella Lew followed with a single up the middle to drive in Greco. Arizona Ritchie delivered a single of her own, but Rhode Island got Fales at the plate.

Rhody finally broke through in the top of the fourth. Skyler Rapuano drew a two-out walk and stole second to get into scoring position. Jessica Hennelly dropped a blooper between first and second in the infield, and the ball spun away. This allowed Rapuano to round third and score to tie the game.

GW retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Ashley Corpuz led off with a double, and one out later, Abby Schaub traded places with her with a double of her own. Reese Torres followed with a single, but the relay from centerfielder Leilyn Alvarez to third baseman Casey Miller to catcher Vicki Viaclovsky nabbed Schaub at the plate and kept it a one-run game. In the top of the sixth, Rhody again tied the score. Rapuano led off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Hennelly. Viaclovsky singled to center to bring Rapuano home and make the score 2-2.

More two-out magic gave the Rams their first lead of the game. With two out, Elena Gonzalez singled and stole second base. Becca Zawistowski worked a walk, and Rapuano singled through the left side to bring Gonzalez around for a 3-2 lead.

Game 2 - George Washington 9, Rhode Island 0 (6 inn.)
George Washington freshman Emma Fales shut down the Rams in the second game, and a four-run fifth inning broke the game open late.

Fales allowed just three singles and one walk as she has the URI offense off balance throughout the game. She induced 10 groundouts and five fly outs, allowing her defense to take care of the Rhode Island batters. The victory was the first of her career for Fales (1-5).

The Colonials held a 2-0 lead when they widened the gap in the fifth. With two outs, Abby Schaub stroked a two-run single to right field. Two batters later, Maggie Greco laced a two-run triple to right center that extended the lead to 6-0. GW added three in the sixth inning, with Ashley Corpuz ending the game with a two-run homer to left field.

Inside the Box Scores

• Entering the day, George Washington had been 21-3 in Atlantic 10 home games over the last three seasons.
• Rhode Island won its conference opener for the first time since 2016.
• Rhode Island was 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts in the first game.
• Senior Liz Lynchard (3-4) pitched her fourth complete game of the season in the opener, scattering seven hits while striking out nine batters.
• Lynchard finished the opener by retiring the final seven batters she faced.
• Skyler Rapuano doubled, walked, stole a base and scored two runs.
• Senior Jessica Hennelly singled, had a sacrifice fly and drove in one run.
• Freshman Becca Zawistowski singled once in each game. She also walked in the opener.
• Senior Rachel Zingerman singled, walked twice and stole two bases on the day.
• Junior Vicki Viaclovsky singled twice, walked twice and drove in one run for the day.
• Graduate student Elena Gonzalez singled twice and stole three bases in the first game.
• Freshman Hannah Hernandez singled in the second game.
• Rhode Island did not commit an error in either game.

What's Next
Rhode Island and George Washington meet for the rubber game of the series Sunday at noon. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.