KINGSTON, R.I. – Coming off a walk-off victory in its most recent game, Rhode Island will head to Texas for the second time this season as it visits Tarleton State for a pair of non-conference doubleheaders Friday and Saturday.

Originally a three-game series, the teams added a game to the weekend. This helps the Rams, who have lost four early season games due to weather. All four games are scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+ this weekend (links below). For fans heading to the games, there is an admission cost. 

Friday, March 20
at Tarleton State, 5:00 p.m. EST - ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets
at Tarleton State, 7:30 p.m. EST - ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets

Saturday, March 21
at Tarleton State, 1:00 p.m. EST - ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets
at Tarleton State, 3:30 p.m. EST - ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets

RHODE ISLAND VS. TARLETON STATE - SERIES NOTES 

• Rhode Island and Tarleton State will be meeting for the first time in softball.
• It is the second trip to Texas for the Rams this season.
• The Rams opened the season at the Lion Invitational hosted by East Texas A&M in Commerce, Texas.
• Tarleton State is 6-5 at home this season, while Rhode Island is 0-5 in road games.
• The Texans currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference, but it will be one of eight schools in the United Athletic Conference starting July 1.
• Casey Schultz leads Tarleton State with four home runs to go with two doubles, 13 runs scored and 13 RBI.
• The Texans are batting .332 as a team. Mikayla Wilson leads the team with a .396 batting averaged and 22 runs scored.

TORRES THE TOUGHEST PLAYER TO STRIKE OUT

• Sophomore Julianne Torres is the toughest player in the country to strikeout.
• This season she has yet to fan in 40 plate appearances.
• She is one of four players nationally who have yet to strike out while playing at least 75 percent of their team's games and averaging 2.5 plate appearances per game.
• The other three entering the week without any strikeouts are ETSU'S Whitney Boone, Baylor's Brooklyn Carter and Algaia Rudd of Robert Morris.
• Torres is batting .265 (9-for-34) with two doubles, three RBI and four runs scored.
• She also has been hit by two pitches, drawn one walk and delivered three sacrifices (two sacrifice flies, one sacrifice bunt.

MALEITZKE DELIVERS IN KEY MOMENT

• Junior Natalie Maleitzke delivered her first career home run in a key moment for the Rams in Sunday's 8-7 win over St. Bonaventure.
• With her team trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Maleitzke went to the plate with one out and a runner on first base.
• She lined a shot over the centerfield fence to pull Rhody within one run.
• URI scored another run later in the frame and eventually won the game in extra innings.
• It was not only the first career home run for Maleitzke, but also the first home run for the Rams this season.