How It Happened
Rhode Island (1-7) hung tough with Kansas but could generate enough offense to stay in the game, falling 6-1 to the Jayhawks at the Bulls Invitational Saturday evening.

After two scoreless innings, Kansas (12-8) broke through in the bottom of the third. Peyton Renzi singled and stole second base. Shayna Espy followed with a single to bring Renzi in with the first run. A bunt single by Presley Limbaugh and a walk to Lyric Moore loaded the bases. Olivia Bruno walked to forced Espy, and a sacrifice fly by Ashlyn Anderson drove in Limbaugh to cap the rally.

Rhody got one run back in the top of the fourth. Elena Gonzalez doubled and was sacrificed to third by Cassie Swenson. Leilyn Alvarez followed with a bunt of her own to drive on Gonzalez.

That was as close as the score got, as Kansas added insurance in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and a runner on, Katie Gee reached on an error. Hailey Cripe followed with a three-run homer that broke the game open and made it a five-run contest.

Rhode Island got runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but it could not cut into the deficit.

Inside the Box Score

• Despite scoring just one run through three games at the Bulls Invitational Rhode Island has had base runners in 16 of its 17 turns at bat.
• Graduate student Elena Gonzalez doubled, walked and scored one run.
• Senior Skyler Rapuano had one single.
• Freshman Casey Miller reached twice on walks.
• Freshman Ashley Hibbard made her first career start and gave URI a solid outing. She scattered five hits and allowed just three earned runs over 5.0 innings of work.
• Senior Caitlin O'Leary appeared as a pinch hitter and drew a walk. She remained in the game and later walked a second time.
• Sophomore Noelle Sterner pitched a scoreless inning of relief, striking out one batter.

What's Next
Rhode Island plays two games at the Bulls Invitational on Sunday. The Rams take on Army at 9 a.m. and then face USC-Update at 11:30 a.m.