Box Score Rhode Island Starters 
Miller (2B), Bulinski (DP), Knarr (1B), Sterner (DP), Torres (SS), Orndorff (LF), Power (3B), Jones (RF), Hernandez (CF), Vale-Cruz (P)

Massachusetts Starters
Keefe (RF), Musch (CF), Kairer (LF), Castro (DP), Woodworth (2B), Torres (SS), Keagy (3B), Rama (1B), Packard (C), Streicher (P)

How it Happened
Sophomore Avery Vale-Cruz delivered a dominant complete-game, leading Rhode Island to a 4-1 win over Massachusetts in the opener of a doubleheader Wednesday.

Vale-Cruz (3-4) limited UMass (11-28, 4-11 Atlantic 10) to five hits as she hurled her second career complete game. She allowed just three hits – all singles – after the first inning. Vale-Cruz fanned eight batters and walked just one, which happened the be the first batter of the game. Her performance helped the Rams (10-28, 4-14, A-10) snap an eight-game losing streak.

UMass got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. The first two batters reached as Riain Keefe walked and Brooke Musch singled up the middle. A double-steal attempt resulted in Keefe being thrown out, but Musch moved to second. With two down, Lydia Castro looped a single to right field to bring Musch in for a 1-0 lead.

Rhody took the lead in the top of the third. Emily Power reached on an error, and Casey Miller followed with a single. She advanced to second on the throw, giving the Rams two runners in scoring position. Kylie Bulinski delivered an infield single between first and second. Second baseman Lily Woodworth made a diving stop, but there was no play at first and Miller made a heads-up play, never stopping around third as she and Power scored to give URI a 2-1 lead.

The Rams added to the lead in the fourth inning. Back-to-back singled by Noelle Sterner and Sydney Orndorff put runners on the corners. Power lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to drive Sterner in with URI's third run of the game.

In the top of the sixth, Sterner drew a one-out walk. Pinch runner Mandi Hanewich stole second. She then made a key play with her speed when Sydney Orndorff reached on an error at shortstop. The ball bounced high in the air off the glove of Odyssey Torres, and Hanewich beat the throw home to give Rhody a three-run lead.

Inside the Box Score

• Junior Kylie Bulinski singled and drove in two runs.
• Bulinski also threw out two would-be base stealers.
• Junior Casey Miller singled and scored one run.
• Senior Noelle Sterner singled, walked and scored one run.
• Sophomore Sydney Orndorff had one single.
• Senior Emily Power drove in one run with a sacrifice fly. She also scored the team's first run of the game.
• Junior Mandi Hanewich appeared as a pinch runner. She stole a base and scored a key run late in the contest.
• Sophomore Sydney Orndorff, junior Hannah Hernandez and freshman Allison Jones each singled once.

Up Next
Rhode Island and Massachusetts complete the doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.