Marist Starters
Geiser (LF); Ahr (SS); Pusey (CF); Rogers (RF); Salvo (2B); Roumelis (1B); Wiltsie (DP); Manory (C); Manley (3B); DeChicchis (P)

Rhode Island Starters
Hernandez (CF); Frickleton (3B); Zawistowski (DP); Torres (SS); Knarr (1b); Fairbanks (LF); Snyder (RF); Maleitzke (C); Miller (2B); Vale-Cruz (P)

How It Happened
Riley Frickleton delivered a walk-off single, driving in Hannah Hernandez in the bottom of the seventh to lift Rhode Island to a 3-2 win over Marist at the Lion Invitational Friday afternoon. It is the first time the Rams (1-0) have won their season opener since 2022.

Rhody struck quickly in the bottom of the first, scoring a pair of runs after two outs were recorded. With Hernandez on first base and two down, Julianne Torres blooped a single to shallow right to put runners on the corners. Katie Knarr followed with a single to bring Hernandez in. Then, in her first career at bat, Brooke Fairbanks lined a single to the gap in right center to bring Torres around for a 2-0 lead.

Marist (3-3) responded immediately with a two-run home run off the bat of Lily Roumelis in the top of the second. With one out and Samantha Rogers on first, Roumelis launched a shot to straightaway center to pull the Red Foxes even.

Vale-Cruz avoided trouble in the top of the third despite allowing a single and two walks. With one out, Annabelle Geiser reached on a bunt single. She was called out a few pitches later for leaving the base early on a steal attempt. The next two batters walked, but first baseman Katie Knarr snared a line drive off the bat of Rogers to end the threat.

In the bottom of the third, Rhody loaded the bases with no outs after Riley Frickleton and Julianne Torres sandwiched singles around a Becca Zawistowski walk. The Torres single just missed being a home run down the left field line. With the bases full, Katie Knarr chopped a ball to third for a 5-2-3 double play, and Brooke Fairbanks struck out to end the potential threat.

Rhody had a chance in the bottom of the fourth. Rayah Snyder led off the frame with a single and stole second with one out. A groundout by Casey Miller moved her to third base, but Snyder was stranded there when a low line drive off the bat of Hannah Hernandez turned into an inning-ending groundout.

Meanwhile URI starter Avery Vale-Cruz settled into a groove in the circle. From the third through seventh innings, she had a stretch of retiring 11 of the 13 batters she faced. Marist got back-to-back singles with one out in the top of the seventh. Vale-Cruz got Annabelle Geiser out on a bouncer to second base, which put two runners in scoring position with two outs. Vale-Cruze then induced a fly ball to right field by Haley Ahr to end the threat unscathed.

Hannah Hernandez lofted a double to left center to lead off the bottom of the seventh. She moved to third on a wild pitch. Riley Frickleton laced a single to left center to allow Henandez to come in with the winning run.

Inside the Box Score

• Avery Vale-Cruz (1-0) went the distance in in the circle. In her sixth career complete game, she scattered six hits and three walks while striking out three batters.
• Seven different players had at least one hit, with four players recording two-hit games.
• Rhode Island pounded out 11 hits, 10 of which were singles.
• Hannah Hernandez doubled, singled and scored twice.
• Julianne Torres also had a multi-hit game, delivering two singles and scoring one run.
• Riley Frickleton singled twice and had the game-winning RBI in her first game since 2024. She missed all of last season with an injury.
• Brooke Fairbanks started her collegiate debut in left field and singled twice with one RBI.
• Katie Knarr singled and had one run batted in.
• Rayah Snyder started in right field in her URI debut and had a single with a stolen base.
• She played two seasons at Connecticut before transferring to Rhode Island.
• Becca Zawistowski singled and walked.
• Meg McNally made her collegiate debut as a pinch runner and stole a base.

Up Next
Rhode Island plays host East Texas A&M Friday night at approximately 9:15 p.m. EST. The game will stream on ESPN+.