Rhode Island Starters
Hanewich (LF); Miller (2B); Bulinsky (C); Power (3B); Knarr (1B); Hernandez (CF); Zawistowski (DP); Orndorff (RF); Torres (SS); Zaun (P)
 
Presbyterian College Starters
Arnette (SS); Goforth (LF); Wolfe (3B); Fletcher (RF); Darby (DP); Owens (1B); Yanes (2B); Mattas (CF); Decuir (CF); Duncan (P)

How It Happened
Rhode Island (2-4) rallied back from three different deficits to defeat Presbyterian College Friday afternoon at the Catamount Classic in Cullawhee, N.C.

Presbyterian (7-6) took a quick lead when Kasey Wolfe hit a solo home run with two down in the top of the first. Rhode Island got the run back in the bottom of the second when a sacrifice fly off the bat of Becca Zawistowski drove in Katie Knarr.

The Blue Hose retook the lead in the top of the third with a three-run rally. Presbyterian batted around, getting four hits and a pair of walks in the frame. A two-run double by Olivia Goforth and an RBI groundout by Mallory Fletcher accounted for the runs as URI fell behind, 4-1.

Rhode Island evened things with a three-run inning of its own in the fourth. Following a leadoff double by Kylie Bulinski, Giuliana Ialongo and Katie Knarr walked to load the bases with no outs. Hannah Hernandez brought pinch runner Brooke Gerry in with the third walk of the frame. With one out, Sydney Orndorff chopped a grounder up the middle. Hernandez was out on the play at second, but the throw to first got away, allowing both Ialongo and Knarr to come in and tie the game at 4-4.

Pitcher Avery Vale-Cruz gave the Rams a shot in the arm in the top of the fifth inning. With one out and runners on first and third, Vale-Cruz delivered back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat and keep the scored tied.

In the bottom of the inning, singles by Bulinski and Knarr were sandwiched around an error that allowed Ialongo to reach, loading the bases with one out. A force out at the plate and a strikeout ended the threat with no runs scored.

For the third time, Presbyterian took a lead when Molly Mattas launched a solo home to center, giving the Blue Hose a 5-4 lead. Three straight singles loaded the bases with no outs. A walk forced Gracie DeCuir in with the second run of the inning.

Sarah Trosin came on in relief and induced a 3-2-4 double play that cut down the lead runner at the plate. A sinking line drive to rightfield was caught with a diving play by Sydney Orndorff to end the rally and limit the damage.

Orndorff led the bottom of the sixth off with a single, and Julianne Torres and Mandi Hanewich followed suit, loading rhe bases with no outs. Pinch hitter Noelle Sterner got the fourth straight single, bringing Orndorff in to make it a one-run game. A fielder's choice cut down Torres at home for the first out. Giuliana Ialongo delivered a single to left center that drove in Hanewich and Casey Miller – who came in to run for Sterner. The hit gave URI its first lead, 7-6.

Presbyterian got the leadoff runner on via an infield error. Trosin was able to lock in, inducing an infield pop up and a strikeout. DeCuir reached on the second Rhody error of the inning to put the potential go-ahead run on base with two down. Baxleigh Arnette smoked a line drive, but Rhody first baseman Katie Knarr made a leaping catch to end the threat and the game.

Inside the Box Score

• Sarah Trosin (1-0) pitched 2.0 innings of scoreless relief to earn her first career win.
• Katie Knarr double, single, walk and scored one run.
• Kylie Bulinski double, single.
• Hannah Hernandez bunt single, stolen base, one RBI.
• Sydney Orndorff singled and scored one run.
• Noelle Sterner had an RBI pinch hit single.
• Giuliana Ialongo singled, walked and drove in two runs.

Up Next
Rhode Island plays host Western Carolina Friday evening. First pitched is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and the game will stream on ESPN+.