How It Happened
Shoddy defense was the demise for Rhode Island in an 11-6 loss at Austin Peay in the Cathi Maynard Invitational Saturday night.

The Rams (1-12) made five defensive errors that led to seven unearned runs. Three of the errors came in the first two innings, as the host Governors (11-9) built a 9-1 lead over the first three frames. The first five runs for Austin Peay were all unearned, thanks to three fielding errors, three hits, three walks and a hit batsman in the first 12 Governor batters.

With four more runs in the bottom of the third, Austin Peay led 9-1 and seemed to be in complete control.

Rhode Island broke through with five runs in the top of the fifth inning. After back-to-back singles to start the inning, Leilyn Alverez drove in pinch runner Natalie Maleitzke with a double down the right field line. Cassie Swenson followed with a two-run single off the glove of the third baseman. Emily Power and Mandi Hanewich followed with RBI singles to cap the rally and trim the deficit to three runs.

However, URI's fifth error of the game put a runner on in the bottom half of the inning, and Kendyl Weinzapfel drilled a two-run homer to left center. That extended the lead to five runs and essentially sealed the game, as Rhody went down in order in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island lost for the 10th straight game.
• Cassie Swenson had her third multi-hit game of the season, as she doubled, singled, drove in two runs and scored once.
• Zoe Rensel and Leilyn Alvarez both doubled, scored a run and had one run batted in.
• Mandi Hanewich singled and drove in one run. The hit was the first of her career.
• Emily Power singled, walked and drove in a run.
• Casey Miller had one single and scored a run.
• Skyler Rapuano walked twice and scored a run.
• Elena Gonzalez singled and stole one base.
• Vicki Viaclovsky had a single.
• Natalie Maleitzke appeared as a pinch runner and scored.
• Ashley Hibbard pitched a scoreless inning of relief, striking out one batter. She was the lone pitcher of five used by the Rams to not allow any runs.
• Lauren Wasikowski allowed one run over 2.0 innings of work.

What's Next
Rhode Island plays two games on Sunday. The Rams play Akron at 11:30 a.m. EST and then get a rematch with Austin Peay Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.. EST. The latter game will be streamed on ESPN+.