How It Happened
After a tough extra-inning loss in the opening game, Rhode Island rebounded to salvage a doubleheader split with George Mason Saturday. The Patriots (19-32, 10-15 Atlantic 10) won the first game 3-1 before URI (15-36, 10-15 A-10) took the nightcap, 5-4.

Game 1 – George Mason 3, Rhode Island 1 (8 inn.)
Rhode Island sophomore Ashley Hibbard (6-7) carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but George Mason rallied late to win in extra innings.

The Rams struck first with an unearned run in the home half of the fifth. Cassie Swenson reached on a two-out single and moved to second when Casey Miller reached on an error. Elena Gonzalez singled sharply up the middle to bring Swenson around for a 1-0 lead.

Hibbard dominated for six innings, facing just two batter more than the minimum. She retired the first 11 Patriot batters before walking Elyssa DeRosa with two down in the fourth. With two outs in the sixth, Marlaina Bozek reached on an error. Hibbard got out of both frames unscathed.

DeRosa ended the no-hit bid with a triple down the right field line to open the seventh. A one-out groundout by Maddy Myers brought DeRosa in to tie the game.

An inning later, Zoe Vozick blooped a single down the right field line to start the eighth for George Mason. Logan Pickford singled through the left side to advance pinch runner Kamryn Inman. DJ Sharpe sacrificed both runners into scoring position. A walk to Bozek loaded the bases, and Rachel Warrens executed a squeeze play to bring Inman in with the go-ahead run. Charlotte Montgomery capped the inning with a single to drive in Pickford.

Rhode Island started the seventh with a walk to Skyler Rapuano and a single by Sydney Yoder. Rapuano advanced to third on the hit, but Yoder was called out trying to advance to second base. Back-to-back infield pop outs ended the game.

Game 2 – Rhode Island 5, George Mason 4
Rhode Island scored five runs over the first three innings and then held on late for the victory.

After the Patriots scored twice in the top of the first, Kylie Bulinski launched a two-out double in the bottom of the inning to drive in Elena Gonzalez and make the score 2-1. An inning later, URI's Sydney Yoder was hit by a pitch to lead off. Zoe Rensel followed with a blast to straightaway center to put the Rams up, 3-2.

George Mason tied the game with a run in the top of the third. Four straight singles by Rhode Island led to a pair of runs. Casey Miller singled up the middle before Elena Gonzalez laid down a bunt single. Bulinski singled to center to drive in Miller. A bunt single by Skyler Rapuano loaded the bases before Sydney Yoder lofted a sacrifice fly to bring Gonzalez in for a 5-3 lead.

George Mason got an unearned run in the sixth to pull back within one at 5-4. That was all the scoring, as Rhody held on for the victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island won its 10th Atlantic 10 game of the season in Game Two. Last year the Rams won 12 conference games. It is the first time in program history URI has posted double-digit victories in back-to-back seasons.
• Both Rhode Island and George Mason were eliminated from postseason contention Saturday. Massachusetts swept its doubleheader against Saint Joseph's, clinching the final open spot in the Atlantic 10 Championship.
• Freshman Avery Vale-Cruz closed out the second game to earn her first career save. She is the fourth different URI pitcher to earn a save this season, joining Ashley Hibbard (3), Liz Lynchard (2) and Katie Zaun (2).
• The eight saves for the team are a program record.
• Graduate student Elena Gonzalez reached base five times on the day. She singled three times, walked twice, score two runs and had one RBI.
• Graduate student Skyler Rapuano doubled, singled twice and walked once over the two games. She also recorded six putouts in rightfield, two of which came on spectacular diving plays.
• Graduate student Cassie Swenson singled three times and scored once in the opener. It was her second three-hit game of the season.
• Sophomore Casey Miller singled once in each game and scored once.
• Freshman Zoe Rensel's two-run homer in the second game was the first of her career.
• Junior Emily Power recorded five assists on the day and now has 91 for the season, matching her total from last season. Power is just the second Ram in team history to record 90+ assists in back-to-back seasons. Shauna Newmiller had 94 in 2000 and a program-record 129 in 2001.

What's Next
Rhode Island and George Mason close out the 2024 season with a single game Sunday. First pitch is slated for 12:05 p.m. on ESPN+.