How It Happened
A walk-off, pinch hit single by freshman Zoe Rensel to drive in Riley Frickleton helped Rhode Island split a doubleheader with Loyola Chicago Saturday afternoon at the URI Softball Complex.

The Rams (7-24, 4-7 A-10) scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to record the program's first win over Loyola Chicago (15-19, 4-7 A-10). The visiting Ramblers reached the championship game of the 2023 Atlantic 10 Championship.

Game 1 – Loyola Chicago 3, Rhode Island 0
Loyola Chicago ace Peyton Pepkowski (8-9) was the story in the first game. She pitched a complete-game three-hit shutout while striking out eight batters. During one stretch from the first inning into the third, she fanned five consecutive URI hitters. She got all the run support she needed in the top of the first when Liz Sedakis delivered a two-out single through the left side that drove in Haley Wallace and Sydney Barnett.

Game 2 – Rhode Island 2, Loyola Chicago 1
Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Rhode Island finally broke through. Emily Power reached on a one-out single. Becca Zawistowski followed with a single down the left field line. The ball got away from the left fielder, allowing pinch runner Leilyn Alvarez to score all the way from first base. Riley Frickleton came on the run for Zawistowski and moved to third on a groundout by Vicki Viaclovsky. Pinch hitter Zoe Rensel drilled a sharply-hit ball to the third baseman, who was playing inside the bag and could not handle the ball. This allowed Frickleton to come in and end the game in walk-off fashion.

Inside the Box Scores

• Sophomore pitcher Ashley Hibbard (2-2) was outstanding in both games. The lefty went the distance to earn the victory in the second game, scattering eight hits and just one walk. The only blemish was a solo home run off the bat of Bella Crimaldi.
• In the first game Hibbard pitched two scoreless innings of relief. For the day, she pitched nine innings on the day and allowed just one run.
• Sophomore Casey Miller had a triple and single in five at bats.
• Sophomore first baseman Becca Zawistowski had two singles offensively, and added 15 putouts with one assist on the day.
• Graduate student Sydney Yoder had a double in the first game.
• Freshman Zoe Rensel singled and had one RBI in the second game.
• Junior Emily Power and sophomores Hannah Hernanez and Kylie Bulinski each had one single on the day.

What's Next
Rhode Island and Loyola Chicago will close out the series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon and the game will stream on ESPN+.