How It Happened
Avery Vale-Cruz came within one out of a no-hitter to help Rhode Island (13-21) complete a doubleheader sweep of New Haven (7-28) Tuesday afternoon. Vale-Cruz (7-6) and Brooke Gerry both delivered complete-game performances to lead the Rams to the two victories.

Game 1 Starters
New Haven
Pellicone (SS); Thorpe (2B); Ricci (DP); Petit (RF); Trueman (C); Genaway (1B); Haniff (LF); Chenet (CF); Murai (3B); Imbimbo (P)

Rhode Island
McNally (CF); Frickleton (3B); Bulinski (C); Zawistowski (DP); Fairbanks (LF); Orndorff (2B); Snyder (RF); Knarr (1B); Ialongo (SS); Gerry (P)

Game 1 - Rhode Island 4, New Haven 3
Rhode Island twice overcame some early sloppiness to rally twice from one-run deficits and eventually pull out the victory.

New Haven struck immediately, as a leadoff double by Bri Pellicone followed by a single and a Rhody error led to a 1-0 lead for the Chargers two batters into the game. Emily Ricci followed with a third straight hit to give New Haven runners on first and second with no outs, but Katie Knarr snared a sharp line drive off the bat of Jess Petit and quickly stepped on first base for an unassisted double play. After a walk, Brooke Gerry struck out Elyse Genaway to end the inning before any further damage was done.

Rhody responded right away. Meg McNally singled, Riley Frickleton was hit by a pitch and Kylie Bulinski walked to load the bases with no outs. Becca Zawistowski drove McNally in with a sacrifice fly that allowed Frickleton to advance to third. A tapper to shortstop looked to get a second run in, but a strong defensive play by New Haven's Bri Pellicone was just in time to get Frickleton at the plate, keeping the score tied.

In the top of the third, Pellicone reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kylie Thorpe. With two outs, Rhody looked poised to get out of the inning, but a second infield error allowed Jess Petit to reach while Pellicone scored from second and made the score 2-1.

Rhody took its first lead in the fourth inning. Brooke Fairbanks singled, and a one-out double by Rayah Snyder put two in scoring position. Katie Knarr dropped a single into shallow right field to bring Fairbanks in with the tying run. Giuliana Ialongo followed with a single to drive in Snyder for a 3-2 lead.

The Rams got an insurance run an inning later. Kylie Bulinski led off with a double and advanced on a groundout. Brooke Fairbanks sent a sacrifice fly to center to plate Buliski.

New Haven manufactured a run in the sixth. Elyse Genaway drew a one-out walk after being down 0-2. A two-out walk to Bella Chenet put two runners on, and Marzia Johnson singled Genaway in. Brooke Gerry got a flyout to end the frame, then retired the Chargers in order in the seventh to seal the win.

Game 2 Starters
New Haven
Pellicone (SS); Thorpe (2B); Petit (RF); Amidan (3B); Sullivan (DP); Ceccarelli (1B); Imbimbo (LF); Chenet (CF); Piazza (C); Griffin (P)

Rhode Island
McNally (CF); Frickleton (3B); Bulinski (DP); Fairbanks (LF); Snyder (RF); Orndorff (2B); Knarr (1B); Maleitzke (C); Ialongo (SS); Vale-Cruz (P)

Game 1 - Rhode Island 3, New Haven 0
Avery Vale-Cruz came within one out of a no-hitter in the most dominant performance of her career. Over the first 6.2 innings, Vale-Cruz allowed just two walks and one hit batsman while striking out four batters.

After she got the first two batters of the seventh on a fly out to right field and a pop up to second base, Vale-Cruz faced Lucia Ceccarelli. On a 2-0 pitch, Ceccarelli grounded a ball up the middle that just eluded shortstop Giuliana Ialongo. Ialongo dove to her left and managed to get a piece of the ball, but Ceccarelli got just enough bat on the ball to sneak it through and end the no-hit bid. Vale-Cruz struck out the next batter to secure her second career shutout.

Rayah Snyder provided all the run support Vale-Cruz needed in the first inning. With one out and the bases loaded thanks to three walks, Snyder laced a single to left that drove in Meg McNally and Kylie Bulinski for a 2-0 lead. In the third inning, Brooke Fairbanks and Snyder hit back-to-back doubles, provided Vale-Cruz with an insurance run. The junior lefty took care of things from there.

Inside the Box Scores

• Avery Vale-Cruz was one out away from URI's first no-hitter in 13 years. In 2013, Sam Bedore threw a no-hitter at Saint Joseph's in a game the Rams dropped 2-1.
• It was the seventh complete game for Vale-Cruz in 12 starts.
• Brooke Gerry also tossed a complete game, her fifth in 11 starts.
• Rayah Snyder doubled, singled twice, walked and scored one run.  
• She also drove in all three URI runs in Game Two.
• Brooke Fairbanks doubled, singled, walked, drove in one run and scored once.
• Meg McNally singled, walked and scored twice on the day.
• Riley Frickleton had one single in each game.
• Kylie Bulinski doubled, singled, walked twice and scored twice in six plate appearances.
• Katie Knarr and Giuliana Ialongo each had an RBI single in the first game.

Up Next
Rhode Island travels to Sacred Heart for a doubleheader Wednesday, April 15 at 2 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.