How It Happened
Rhode Island and Yale split a pair of tightly-contested games Tuesday. The Rams (8-15) picked up another extra-inning win in the opener, rallying for a 4-2 victory. Yale (10-20) outlasted URI in a back-and-forth nightcap, using a three-run fifth to spark a 9-6 win.

Game 1 Starters
Rhode Island
Hernandez (CF); Torres (SS); Bulinski (C); Zawistowski (DP); Orndorff (LF); Knarr (1B); Snyder (RF); Ialongo (3B); Miller (2B); Hibbard (P)

Yale
Gandolfo (CF); Peoples (2B); Kairath (3B); Westmoreland (1B); Cross (RF); Littleton (SS); Dominguez (C); Oikle (DP); Kang (LF); Joseph (P)

Game 1 - Rhode Island 4, Yale 2 (8 inn.)
Rhode Island rallied late to send the game to extra innings, then won the game with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth.

With Rhody trialing 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Rayah Snyder had a leadoff singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Giuliana Ialongo. A wild pitch got Snyder to third with one out. Natalie Maleitzke once again came through in a pinch-hitting appearance, driving Snyder in with the tying run on a sacrifice fly to right field.

In the top of the eighth, Julianne Torres and Kylie Bulinski got things going for URI with back-to-back singles. Becca Zawistowski moved both into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Sydney Orndorff lined a ball to left that allowed Orndorff to score the go-ahead run. Katie Knarr then had a run-scoring to bring pinch runner Mandi Hanewich in with an insurance run.

After the Rams took their first lead with a pair of runs in the top of the eight, Yale got a leadoff single from Isabella Fortini. However, Avery Vale-Cruz (6-3) got the next three batters in order to secure the victory.

Game 2 Starters
Rhode Island
McNally (CF); Frickleton (3B); Bulinski (DP); Knarr (1B); Ordorff (LF); Maleitzke (C); Snyder (RF); Ialongo (SS); Miller (2B); Kuhnel (P)

Yale
Gandolfo (CF); Peoples (1B); Cross (RF); Taylor (P); Ohe (2B); Littleton (SS); Donahoe (LF); Fortini (C); Oikle (3B); Henderson (DP)

Game 2 - Yale 9, Rhode Island 6
Rhode Island appeared to be in good shape, holding a 5-2 lead after a four-run rally in the top of the third inning. However, Yale outscored Rhody 7-1 from that point on to earn the split.

A two-run double by Rayah Snyder capped URI's four-run third and gave the Rams a 5-2 lead. Yale scored four runs of its own in the bottom of the frame, using three hits, a walk and a hit batsman to retake the lead 6-5.

An RBI single by Kylie Bulinski drove in Meg McNally to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Yale scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to pull ahead 9-6. Despite getting runners on in the sixth and seventh innings, Rhode Island was unable to get any more runs across.  

Inside the Box Scores

• The Game Two loss snapped a modest three-game win streak for Rhode Island.
• Game One was URI's third straight extra-inning game, all victories.
• URI is now 5-1 in extra innings this season.
• Avery Vale-Cruz pitched 4.0 innings of scoreless relief to win the first game. She allowed just one hit while striking out four batters.
• Ashley Hibbard gave Rhody a solid start in Game One. She allowed two runs on four hits while striking out three.
• Sydney Orndorff had a pair of multi-hit games and reached base safely five times on the days. She singled twice in each game, walked once, stole three bases and scored twice run.
• Orndorff had three stolen bases in the top of the fourth inning of Game One. Orndorff entered the game with three steals on the season.
• She extended her hitting streak to six games and is batting .588 (10-for-17) with five runs scored in that span.
• Rayah Snyder had a three-hit day. She singled, walked, stole a base and scored one run in the opener, then doubled, singled, drove in two and scored again in Game Two.
• Giuliana Ialongo started both games and delivered a double, two singles and one RBI.
• Meg McNally singled twice and scored two runs out of the leadoff spot in the second game.
• Natalie Maleitzke recorded a sacrifice fly in both games. She also had a sacrifice bunt in the nightcap.
• Kylie Bulinski singled three times, drove in one run and scored once on the day.
• In the second game, she drew the 82nd walk of her career, setting a new program record in the process.
• Katie Knarr had RBI singles in both games.

Up Next
Rhode Island welcomes Dayton to the URI Softball Complex for a three-game series from April 3-4. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday, April 3 beginning at 12 p.m. There will be a single game Saturday, April 4 at 12 p.m. The Friday doubleheader will be streamed on ESPN+.