How It Happened
In a highly competitive opening day of Atlantic 10 play, Rhode Island (3-17, 1-1 A-10) split a doubleheader at Fordham (9-14, 1-1 A-10) Saturday. After getting one hit in a 3-0 loss in the opener, URI rallied in the second game for a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.
Game 1 – Fordham 3, Rhode Island 0
Devon Miller (3-5) out-dueled
Katie Zaun in the opener, as she shut down the Rhody offense.
Miller kept Rhode Island hitless until a one-out single by
Kylie Bulinski through the right side. It was the lone hit allowed by the Fordham pitcher.
Fordham broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth. Mallory McClellan walked and moved to second on a two-out single by Michaela Carter. Miller came up with a chance to help herself. She grounded a ball up the middle that was knocked down by second baseman
Elena Gonzalez, but McClellan never stopped while rounding third. She slid in just ahead of the tag for a 1-0 lead.
The hosts added two runs in the bottom of the fifth, getting an RBI single from Neleh Nogay and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Eva Koratsis.
Game 2 – Rhode Island 4, Fordham 3
A three-run rally in the top of the fifth sparked Rhody to the win in the nightcap. With her team trialing 2-1,
Leilyn Alvarez drilled a two-run double to center to drive in
Riley Frickleton and
Hannah Hernandez.
Kylie Bulinski drove a single up the middle to bring Alvarez in with the eventual winning run to make the score 4-2.
Fordham trimmed the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Michaela Carter singled and scored when Nicki Sudall doubled down the right field line. That knocked URI starter
Avery Vale-Cruz out of the game.
Ashley Hibbard came on in relief and retired the next three batters to strand pinch runner Mallory McClellan on third.
The defense came up huge in the bottom of the seventh. Centerfielder
Leilyn Alvarez took a potential game-tying home run away from Bailey Enoch. Ranging to her left, Alvarez made an over-the-shoulder leaping grab at the fence. Neleh Nogay reached on a bad-hop single to shortstop and stole second. Hibbard got Sydney Wells to hit a lazy fly ball to left for the second out. Eva Koratsis followed with a hard line drive to left, but
Hannah Hernandez ranged into the gap in left center and snared the ball with another over-the-shoulder catch while on the run. The play ended the game and secured the victory.
Inside the Box Scores
- Avery Vale-Cruz (1-5) earned her first career victory with five-plus innings of work in the second game. She allowed just two earned runs on five hits.
- Ashley Hibbard was strong in both games, pitching a combined 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. She earned her first save in the second game.
- Kylie Bulinski singled in each game and drove in the winning run in the second game. She also was hit by a pitch in the first game. She extended her hitting streak to six games.
- Bulinski was the lone Rhode Island batter to reach safely in the opener.
- Leilyn Alvarez doubled, singled, drove in two runs and stole a base in the second game.
- Vicki Viaclovasky doubled in the second game.
- Hannah Hernandez singled, walked and stole a base in Game Two.
- Skyler Rapuano singled and scored in the second game. She had a sacrifice bunt in Game 1.
- Cassie Swenson singled in the second game.
- Riley Frickleton singled and scored a run in the second game.
- Ashley Hibbard provided 1.2 innings of scoreless relief in the first game.
- Katie Zaun allowed just two earned runs over 4.1 innings in the opener. She allowed five hits and two walks while fanning a pair.
- Elena Gonzalez walked and stole a base in the second game.
- Noelle Sterner made her first appearances of the season, entering as a pinch runner in both games.
What's Next
Rhode Island and Fordham complete the three-game series with a single contest Sunday at 12 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+.
