Game 1 - Rhode Island Starters
Hernandez (CF); Bulinski (C); Knarr (1B); Power (3B); Zawistowski (DP); Torres (SS); Hanewich (LF); Jones (RF); Miller (2B); Hibbard (P)
 
Game 1 – George Mason Starters
DeRosa (RF); Sobota (DP); Lampela (LF); Pickford (C); Altevers Harris (SS); Inman (2B); Mack (3B); McGowan (1B); Montgomery (CF); Wilkerson (P)

Game 1 – George Mason 8, Rhode Island 6
George Mason (9-15, 1-0 Atlantic 10) broke open a one-run game by scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth to take the opener of the doubleheader Friday.

Rhode Island (4-12, 0-1 Atlantic 10) jumped out quickly with two runs in the top of the first. Hannah Hernandez led the game off by reaching on an error. Kylie Bulinski followed with a double to right center, but Hernandez was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first base. Katie Knarr singled to put runners on the corners for Emily Power, who followed with a single of her own to drive Bulinski in with the first run of the game. With two down, Julianne Torres hit a double to right field to bring Power around to give Rhody a 2-0 lead.

George Mason (8-15, 0-0 A-10) made Rhody pay for walking the first two batters in the bottom of the first. With two outs and runners on second and third, Tess Altevers Harris evened the score with a two-run triple to the gap in right center.

Rhody reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth. After Allison Jones was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch, Casey Miller drilled a double to center that brought Jones around for a 3-2 lead.

George Mason took its first lead in the bottom of the fifth. Logan Pickford and Altevers Harris hit back-to-back home runs with one out to put the hosts in front, 4-3. The Patriots scored four more times in the sixth to salt the game away.

Bulinski did give the Rams a three-run home run in the top of the seventh, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback.

Game 2 - Rhode Island Starters
Hernandez (CF); Bulinski (DP); Knarr (1B); Power (3B); Torres (SS); Sterner (RF); Morris (LF); Maleitzke (C); Miller (2B); Zaun (P)
 
Game 2 – George Mason Starters
DeRosa (RF); Sobota (DP); Lampela (LF); Pickford (C); Altevers Harris (SS); Inman (2B); Mack (3B); McGowan (1B); Montgomery (CF); Lane (P)

Game 2 – Rhode Island 7, George Mason 5 (10 inn.)
A late rally and a superb pitching performance from sophomore Avery Vale-Cruz helped Rhode Island earn the split of the doubleheader.

Vale-Cruz (2-1) allowed just one run over the final 6.0 innings to give the Rams a chance. She struck out eight batters while scattering five hits and one walk in one of the team's best pitching performances of the season.

With Vale-Cruz shutting down George Mason (9-16, 1-1 A-10), Rhody trailed 5-1 going into the seventh inning. The Rams (5-12, 1-1 A-10) came up with a four-run rally to tie the score. Pinch hitter Allison Jones was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and Casey Miller reached on a fielder's choice in which no outs were recorded. A walk to Hannah Hernandez loaded the bases for Kylie Bulinski, who drove Jones in with a sacrifice fly.

Katie Knarr followed with a single that brought Miller and put runners on the corners. Emily Power singled through the left side to drive in Hernandez and make the score 5-4. With two outs, Noelle Sterner lined a double to right center to bring pinch runner Ella Sulkazi in to tie the score.

In the bottom of the seventh, George Mason's Elyssa DeRosa reached on a leadoff double. Pitcher Avery Vale-Cruz battled back to strike out the next two batters. Then she retired Logan Pickford on a line drive to center to end the threat and send the game to extra innings.  

In the top of the 10th, Rhode Island took its first lead. Ella Morris led off with a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Natalie Maleitzke. With two outs, Hannah Hernandez doubled to right center, bringing Morris in with the go-ahead run. Kylie Bulinski reached on an error that allowed Hernandez to come around with an insurance run.

Inside the Box Scores

• Of the 13 runs scored by George Mason, eight initially reached base via either walk or hit by pitch.
• Junior Kylie Bulinski homered, doubled, walked four times, scored twice and drove in four runs.
• Her seven-game hitting streak was snapped in the second game, during which she was 0-1 but walked three times and had a sacrifice fly.
• Junior Casey Miller doubled, singled, scored once and drove in one run.
• Senior Emily Power singled three times, walked, scored once and had three runs batted in.
• Freshman Julianne Torres doubled and one RBI in the opener.
• Senior Noelle Sterner doubled, was hit by a pitch and drove in one run in the second game.
• Freshman Katie Knarr singled once in each game and drove in one run.
• Freshman Allison Jones was hit by a pitch and scored one run in both ends of the doubleheader.
• Junior Hannah Hernandez doubled, singled, walked three times and scored four runs on the day.
• She also had the game-winning RBI in Game Two.
• Freshman Ella Morris singled twice and scored once in the nightcap.

Up Next
Rhode Island and George Mason finish the three-game series with a single game Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m.