WEEKEND NOTES

KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island will play five games this weekend at the GATA Challenge, hosted by Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga.

Rhody will play two games each against Tennessee Tech and Eastern Kentucky, as well as a single game against the host Eagles. Saturday's game against Georgia Southern will be on ESPN+, 

GATA CHALLEGE SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 20
vs. Tennessee Tech, 10:00 a.m. - Live Stats
vs. Eastern Kentucky, 12:30 p.m. - Live Stats

Saturday, Feb. 21
at Georgia Southern, 3:00 p.m. - Live Stats | Watch
vs. Tennessee Tech, 5:30 p.m. - Live Stats

Sunday, Feb. 22
vs. Eastern Kentucky, 9:30 p.m. - Live Stats

RHODE ISLAND VS. TENNESSEE TECH - SERIES NOTES 

• Rhode Island and Tennessee Tech have met five times previously.
• The Golden Eagles lead the series, 4-1.
• The last clash, on March 12, 2024,  featured a double-header, with the Rams taking the first meeting 9-7 and Tennessee Tech taking the second 4-0.
• Tennessee Tech enters the weekend 1-7.
• The lone win came against the Queens University of Charlotte Royals 8-2, backed by a 4-for-4 day from sophomore Jailynn Paderez, who had two runs batted in.
• Tennessee Tech was picked to finish sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference by the conference's head softball coaches and communication directors. 

RHODE ISLAND VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY - SERIES NOTES 

• Rhode Island and Eastern Kentucky have met five times previously.
• The Colonels lead the series, 4-1. 
• In the last meeting on Feb. 19, 2023, the Colonels came on top 10-3 on the final day of the Bob Heck Classic in Atlanta, Ga.
• EKU was picked to finish second with 121 votes in the Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
• Junior Kennedy Drafton, who was featured in the Preseason All-ASUN team, enters the weekend batting .321 with seven runs scored and six runs batted in.
• EKU currently holds a 4-6 record, going 2-3 last weekend at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge 

RHODE ISLAND VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and Georgia Southern have met two times previously.
• The most recent meeting was a 1-0 victory for the Eagles at the 2022 Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Fla.
• Georgia Southern sits at 3-6 on the year, going 0-4 last weekend at the Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa, Ala. 
• The Eagles were picked to finish 8th in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll.
• Senior pitcher Alana Barnard was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.

ZAWISTOWSKI OFF TO A HOT START

• Rhode Island senior Becca Zawistowski had a strong opening weekend at the , batting .500 over the course of three games.
• She was 4-for-8 with one double and two walks.
• After starting 88 games combined as a freshman and sophomore, Zawistowski played just 12 games last season before suffering a season-ending injury.
• Primarily a first baseman, Zawistowski is ninth in program history with 541 career putouts and fifth all-time with a .988 fielding percentage.

DEFENSE ON POINT EARLY

• URI's defense was excellent at the Lion Invitational in Commerce, Texas last weekend,
• The Rams did not commit an error over the course of three games, recording 61 putouts and 20 assists cleanly.
• Brooke Fairbanks threw out one runner trying to steal in her first start as a catcher. She also fielded a throw from centerfielder Hannah Hernandez to nab a runner at the plate against East Texas A&M.
• Between two starts in left field and one at catcher, Fairbanks recorded nine putouts and one assist.
• Infielders Julianne Torres, Casey Miller and Riley Frickleton all had four assists in the opening weekend.