Game 1 - Rhode Island Starters
Hernandez (CF); Bulinski (C); Power (3B); Knarr (1B); Jones (RF); Sterner (DP); Torres (SS); Morris (LF); Miller (2B); Hibbard (P)
 
Game 1 - Dayton Starters
Schutter (LF); Bailey (SS); Kapsimalis (2B); Wong (3B); Flaherty (C); Gonzalez (RF); Goodwin (DP); Gallego (CF); Grace (1B); Kemp (P)

Game 1 - Dayton 9, Rhode Island 5
A scoreless pitcher's duel evaporated into a slugfest midway through Game One. After Rhody's Ashley Hibbard and Dayton's Izzy Kemp both turned in four scoreless innings, the teams combined for 11 runs in the fifth inning, with the visiting Flyers (13-9, 4-0 A-10) getting the better end of the barrage.

After a hit batsman, error and bunt single loaded the bases with no outs, Kirnan Bailey launched a ball high off the right field foul pole, but the play was ruled a double instead of a grand slam, putting Dayton up 2-0. Maddie Kapsimalis followed with an RBI single, and after a walk reloaded the bases, Deirdre Flaherty lined a grand slam to right center to cap the seven-run rally.

Rhode Island (5-14, 1-3 A-10) responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning, with all four runs coming after two outs. Katie Knarr and Noelle Sterner each had an RBI single, and two runs came in when Julianne Torres reached on a dropped fly ball.

However, Dayton came right back with a two-run shot by Kapsimalis in the top of the sixth inning that extended the lead to 9-4, and URI was unable to threaten the lead the rest of the way.


Game 2 - Rhode Island Starters
Hernandez (CF); Hanewich (LF); Bulinski (DP); Knarr (1B); Power (3B); Vale-Cruz (P); Torres (SS); Orndorff (RF); Miller (2B); Maleitzke (C)
 
Game 2 - Dayton Starters
Schutter (LF); Bailey (SS); Kapsimalis (2B); Flaherty (C); Wong (3B); Gonzalez (DP); Linneman (RF); Grace (1B); O'Donnell (CF); Dwyer (P)

Game 2 – Rhode Island 2, Dayton 1
A superb relief performance by Katie Zaun gave Rhode Island a needed spark in the second game as the Rams earned a split of the doubleheader.

Zaun entered the game in the top of the fourth with Rhody (6-14, 2-3 A-10) trailing 1-0. She blanked Dayton (13-10, 4-1 A-10) on three hits the rest of the way, pitching out of a jam in the seventh to seal the win.

After getting shut out through four innings, Rhode Island manufactured a two-run rally in the bottom of the fifth. Katie Knarr led off by reaching on an error. Emily Power followed with a single – URI's first of the game – to put two runners on. Avery Vale-Cruz moved pinch runner Ella Morris and Power into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

Julianne Torres looped a single to left to bring Morris in with the tying run. Sydney Orndorff followed with a fielder's choice grounder that brought Power in with the go-ahead run. Orndorff's hustle down the first base line prevented a potential inning-ending double play.

Armed with a lead, Zaun (1-3) faced a tough situation in the seventh when Dayton's leadoff hitter Emma Schutter lined a double to left center. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kirnan Bailey. Maddie Kapsimalis hit a sharp comebacker that Zaun gloved. Zaun looked Schutter back to third before getting Kapsimalis for a huge second out. She then battled Deirdre Flaherty to a full count before getting a swinging third strike to end the game.

Inside the Box Scores

• Senior Katie Zaun had her best performance of the season. She pitched 4.0 shutout innings while striking out five batters and allowing just three hits in the URI win.
• Rhode Island left 11 runners on in the opener. The Rams loaded the bases in each of the first two innings but came away empty.
• Junior Hannah Hernandez reached base safely four times in the first game. She was 3-for-4 with one walk and two runs scored.
• Freshman Katie Knarr had two singled and two runs batted in in the first game.
• Rhode Island is now 6-14 on the year, The Rams were 3-17 through 20 games last season.

Up Next
Rhode Island and Dayton will finish the series Sunday with a single game at 12:05 p.m. The game is scheduled to stream on ESPN+.