EAST TEXAS A&M TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | WEEKEND NOTES

KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island opens its season Friday at the Lion Invitational hosted by East Texas A&M. While the Rams will be playing for the first time in 2026, All five of their opponents have played at least four times this season.

Rhody will take on Marist, the host Lions, Grambling State, Jackson State and Missouri State during the trip to Commerce, Texas. All five games will be available to watch on stream. Friday's game against East Texas A&M will be on ESPN+, while the remaining contests are available on LionsAthletics.com.

LION INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 13
vs. Marist, 4:45 p.m. - Live Stats | Watch
at East Texas A&M, 9:15 p.m. - Live Stats | Watch

Saturday, Feb. 14
vs. Grambling State, 4:45 p.m. - Live Stats | Watch
vs. Jackson State, 7:00 p.m. - Live Stats|  Watch

Sunday, Feb. 15
vs. Missouri State, 12:15 p.m. - Live Stats | Watch

RHODE ISLAND VS. MARIST - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and Marist have met 11 times previously.
• The Red Foxes lead the series, 8-3.
• All 11 meetings have been at neutral fields, with the most recent coming in 2022 at the Hatter Classic in Deland, Fla.
• Marist opened its season at the Charleston Southern tournament, going 3-2 last weekend. Among the wins was a 12-2 victory over George Mason of the Atlantic 10.
• Freshman Annabelle Geiser is the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the week. She batted .563 with nine runs scored, four runs batted in, three stolen bases, one double and four walks.
• One of the top mid-major programs in the country, Marist is ranked No. 20 in this week's DISoftball Mid-Major Poll.

RHODE ISLAND VS. EAST TEXAS A&M - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and East Texas will be meeting for the first time.
• The Lions are 3-2 after hosting the East Texas A&M Leadoff last weekend.
• Two of East Texas A&M's victories came against St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic 10.
• The Lions are coming off a 10-42 season a year ago.
• Tatum Wright had a pair of solo home runs in the first weekend of the season for East Texas A&M.

RHODE ISLAND VS. GRAMBLING STATE - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and Grambling State have never met.
• Grambling State is 1-4 after playing at the Jackson State-hosted River City Classic last weekend.
• It was 17-30 last season.
• Kamryn Broussard is the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year.
• She was the league's player of the year last season after batting .447 with 14 doubles, five triples, three home runs and 32 runs batted in.
• She and Ziya Donaldson combined for 12 hits, 10 runs scored, six doubles and eight RBI last weekend.

RHODE ISLAND VS. JACKSON STATE - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and Jackson State will play each other for the first time since 2009.
• Jackson State won the only previous meeting 3-0. The game was part of a tournament hosted by the University of South Florida.
• The Tigers enter the weekend 4-0 after sweeping Arlington Baptist, Dallas Christian College, Alcorn State and Grambling State last weekend.
• Jackson State scored 59 runs over the four games.
• It was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the SWAC, which it has won each of the last two seasons.
• Jackson State was 29-25 last season and 33-19 the year before.

RHODE ISLAND VS. MISSOURI STATE - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and Missouri State are meeting for the first time.
• Missouri State is 2-3 on the season after playing at Georgia's Red and Black Showcase last weekend.
• Both victories came against Atlantic 10 school Fordham.
• Pitcher Emily Koranda is 1-1 with a 2.00 earned run average, 17 strikeouts and six walks allowed over the course of 14.0 innings pitched.
• She has thrown complete games in both of her starts.
• Lauren Rowland had two home runs and six RBI in the first weekend of the season.