How It Happened
Early outbursts by the opposition led to the downfall of Rhode Island in its first two games of the season, as Rhode Island (0-2) lost games to Northern Kentucky and Saint Francis (Pa.) on the opening day of the Wofford Invitational Friday.

Game 1 – Northern Kentucky 8, Rhode Island 5
A rough first inning sealed the fate in the season opener, as Northern Kentucky (2-3) used five hits, one walk and a Rhody error to open a 6-0 lead just seven batters into the game. The Norse loaded the bases with three straight singles before Tatum Biddle walked to force in the first run. Megan Lenhart reached on an error that allowed two more runs to score before Trinity Robertson delivered a two-run double. Megan Kincer followed with a double of her own to drive in Robertson. Norse starting pitcher Lauryn Hicks (1-3) retired the first five Rhode Island batters and 12 of the first 13 she faced as she cruised through the first four innings.

Down 8-0 and facing a potential mercy-rule loss, Rhode Island charged back in the top of the fifth inning with a five-run rally. Sydney Yoder led off with a single and advanced to third when Emily Power followed with a single of her own. Yoder and pinch runner Mandi Hanewich executed a double steal, with Yoder scoring on the back end. Rhody proceeded to load the bases with no outs, as Riley Frickleton singled and pinch hitter Zoe Rensel was hit by a pitch. Leilyn Alvarez drew a bases loaded walk to force Hanewich in, and an RBI groundout by Kylie Bulinski brought Frickleton in. Skyler Rapuano delivered a single to right, scoring both Alvarez and Rensel to cap the rally. Unfortunately, the Rams could not get any more runs over the final two innings.

Game 2 – Saint Francis 16, Rhode Island 2 (5 inn.)
Saint Francis was relentless from the start, scoring 12 runs over the first three innings. The Pioneers (5-1) had six different players with at least two hits, pounding out 17 as a team to bring the game to an early end via the eight-run mercy rule.

Rhode Island managed to score single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but it was not enough to extend the contest. In the fourth inning, Sydney Yoder drove in Kylie Bulinksi with a single. An inning later, the Rams produced a run with some small ball. Casey Miller drew a leadoff walk and advanced on an Emily Power single. Hannah Hernandez followed with a bunt single, and Miller came around to score when the throw to first base got away.

Inside the Box Scores

• Graduate student Sydney Yoder was impressive in her Rhody debut. She started both games in leftfield and was 3-for-5 on the day with a run scored and one run batted in.
• Yoder had two singles in the first game and one more in the second.
• Junior Emily Power also went 3-for-5 on the day. She singled in the opener and was 2-for-2 with two more singles against Saint Francis.
• Graduate student Skyler Rapuano singled twice and drove in two runs in the opener. She reached on a walk in Game Two.
• Sophomore Kylie Bulinski walked once in each game. She had one RBI against Northern Kentucky and scored once against Saint Francis.
• Freshman Riley Frickleton started in her collegiate debut, getting the nod at second base. She had an infield single, stole a base and scored once in the first game.
• Graduate student Cassie Swenson delivered Rhode Island's first hit of the season, a two-out single in the top of the second against Northern Kentucky.
• Junior Leilyn Alvarez doubled, walked scored one run and had one run batted in during the first game. She added a sacrifice bunt in the second game.
• Sophomore Hannah Hernandez had a single in the second game.
• Freshman Zoe Rensel made her collegiate debut as a pinch hitter in the opener and was hit by a pitch. She later scored a run.
• Mandi Hanewich appeared as a pinch runner in the opener, stole a base and scored one run.
• Freshmen pitchers Ashley Arnold (0-1) and Avery Vale-Cruz also made their collegiate debuts in the opener.
• Vale-Cruz provided a solid relief outing in the opener, keeping the Rams in the game. She pitched 5.0 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out two batters.
• Graduate student Liz Lynchard pitched a scoreless inning in the first game, retiring all three batters she faced.
• Rhode Island had three stolen bases in the opener. In 2023, the Rams set a program record with 72 steals.

What's Next
Rhode Island will play host Wofford at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The Rams will play again at either 3 p.m. or 5 p.m. depending on seeding at the conclusion of round-robin play.