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University of Rhode Island

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Emilie Leger
2
Winner Rhode Island URI 8-29, 5-8 A-10
0
Saint Louis SLU 21-14, 9-4 A-10
Winner
Rhode Island URI
8-29, 5-8 A-10
2
Final
0
Saint Louis SLU
21-14, 9-4 A-10
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Rhode Island URI 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 7 0
Saint Louis SLU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1

W: Hibbard, Ashley (3-3) L: HOCHMAN, Taylor (12-6) S: Zaun, Katie (2)

1
Rhode Island URI 8-30, 5-9 A-10
2
Winner Saint Louis SLU 22-14, 10-4 A-10
Rhode Island URI
8-30, 5-9 A-10
1
Final
2
Saint Louis SLU
22-14, 10-4 A-10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Rhode Island URI 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 7 1
Saint Louis SLU 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 5 0

W: ROYLE, Isabel (8-3) L: Hibbard, Ashley (3-4)

Game Recap: Softball |

Hibbard, Rams Earn Split at Saint Louis

How It Happened
A brilliant pitching performance by sophomore Ashley Hibbard helped Rhode Island split a pair of close contests at Saint Louis Saturday. The Rams (8-30, 5-9 Atlantic 10) won the opening game 2-0, while the host Billikens (22-14, 10-4 A-10) rallied for a 2-1 walk-off win in the nightcap.

Game 1 – Rhode Island 2, Saint Louis 0
Ashley Hibbard dominated the Billikens, throwing 5.2 shutout innings while striking out seven batters. She allowed just four hits and combined with Katie Zaun on the shutout.

Rhody got the runs it needed in the third and fourth innings. With two down in the top of the third, Hannah Hernandez singled to left center and stole second base. Elena Gonzalez followed with a single to center that brought Hernandez in with the first run.

An inning later, Kylie Bulinski led off with a single. Skyler Rapuano laid down a sacrifice bunt to move pinch runner Noelle Sterner to second. Sydney Yoder singled to left center, bringing Sterner around with the insurance run.

Game 2 – Saint Louis 2, Rhode Island 1
The Rams were two outs from a doubleheader sweep, thanks in large part to Ashley Hibbard. The southpaw carried a shutout into the final inning before Saint Louis pieced together a rally that was aided by shaky Rhode Island defense.

URI led 1-0 thanks to an infield single by Casey Miller that drove in Zoe Rensel in the top of the fifth inning.

Hibbard cruised through the first six innings, allowing just two hits. Jane Kaniecky led off the seventh with a single to left field. The next batter was Abby Mallo, who laid down a sacrifice bunt. Pinch runner Karsen Jany was hung up between second and third after rounding the base, and it appeared Rhody would turn it into a double play. However, Miller – who had recorded the force out at first base – threw behind the runner to second, allowing Jany to break for third. She dove in ahead of the tag, putting the tying run on third with one out.

Chloe Rhine singled to the gap in right center to bring Jany home and tie the score. Kelsey Etling greeted relief pitcher Katie Zaun with a single to left, and Jocelyn Abbott followed with a grounder to Zaun that was bobbled. Instead of two outs, the bases were loaded.

This forced the infield in. Kendall Johnson popped a ball into very shallow left, which normally would have been a routine play. However, with the infield in, the ball just eluded the dive of left fielder Hannah Hernandez. Though Rhody got an out at third base for a fielder's choice, the play allowed Rhine to come in with the winning run.

Inside the Box Scores
  • Sophomore Ashley Hibbard (3-4) has been stellar against Saint Louis. In four career appearances against the Billikens, she is 2-1 with one earned run allowed on 12 hits over 21.0 innings of work.
  • She had 14 strikeouts and three walks in 12.0 innings pitched Saturday.
  • Junior Katie Zaun provided 1.1 innings of scoreless relief in the opener, allowing no hits and one walk. She recorded her second save of the season.
  • It was the fourth save of her career, which ties her with Caitlin Kennedy (2013-16) and Kathy Regan (1991-94) for second place in program history.
  • Freshman Zoe Rensel had a single in the opener and a double, single and sacrifice bunt with a run scored in the second game.
  • She is on a seven-game hitting streak during which she has raised her season batting average 133 points from .200 to a team-best .333.
  • The multi-hit game was the first of her career.
  • Sophomore Casey Miller singled in each game and drove in URI's lone run of the second game.
  • Graduate student Elena Gonzalez singled in both games and drove in one run in the opener.
  • Sophomore Kylie Bulinski singled twice and walked once on the day.
  • Graduate student Sydney Yoder singled in both ends of the doubleheader and drove in one run in the first game.
  • Sophomore Hannah Hernandez singled, walked, scored one run and stole one base in the opener.
  • Junior Noelle Sterner appeared as a pinch runner and scored her first career run in the opener.
  • Graduate student Skyler Rapuano singled and had a sacrifice bunt.
  • Junior Emily Power had a single in the second game.
What's Next
Rhode Island and Saint Louis will finish the series with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.
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