How It Happened
Rhode Island (15-23, 4-13 Atlantic 10) dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Fordham Saturday afternoon. Fordham (18-23, 9-8 A-10) pounded out 21 hits on the day, and URI was unable to keep up.

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

Fordham
Nogay (CF); Swan (LF); McGuire (SS); Forcucci (RF); Sudall (C); Koratsis (1B); Nesturrick (3B); Vandernoth (2B); Klimaszewski (DP); Simcoe (P)

Game 1 - Fordham 7, Rhode Island 1
Olivia Simcoe (9-9) stymied the Rhode Island bats in the opener, hurling a one-hitter in a complete-game effort. She allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out six in a dominant outing.
 
Fordham struck early, getting a two-run double from Nicki Sudall in the bottom of the first. With two outs and runners on the corners, Sudall lined a shot through the gap in left center. The hit drove in Neleh Nogay and Sadira Forcucci. The next batter, Eva Koratsis, hit a sinking line drive, but Hannah Hernandez went into a full-extension dive to make the catch and end the inning without further damage.

The hosts added to the lead an inning later when Mikayla Swan snuck a single over a drawn-in Rhody infield, which allowed Sophie Nesturrick to score. Giuliana Ialongo got that run back with a solo home run to lead off the top of the third. That was the lone hit of the game for URI.

Fordham broke the game open with a three-run home run by Forcucci in the bottom of the sixth.

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

Fordham
Nogay (CF); Swan (LF); McGuire (SS); Forcucci (RF); Sudall (C); Koratsis (1B); Nesturrick (3B); Vandernoth (2B); Klimaszewski (DP); Beeman (P)

Game 2 - Fordham 6, Rhode Island 2
Eva Koratsis hit a pair of home runs to spark Fordham to the doubleheader sweep.

As she did in the first game, Nicki Sudall put Fordham in front early. She had a two-run single in the home half of the first to give the hosts the lead.

Rhode Island finally broke through with a two-out rally in the top of the third. After the first two batters were retired, Hannah Hernandez drew a walk and stole second. She came in on a double by Riley Frickleton. After a walk to Kylie Bulinski, Frickleton came in on a single by Natalie Maleitzke.

Koratsis hit a solo home run in bottom of the third to give Fordham a 3-2 lead. The home team added a run in the fifth with Neleh Nogay drew a bases-loaded walk to force Sophie Nesturrick in.

URI wasted a golden opportunity in top of the sixth. After a single by Sydney Orndorff, Becca Zawistowski pulled a double to left field. With two runners in scoring position, Rhody had back-to-back strikeouts and a fly out to end the threat.

Koratsis put the game on ice in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and a runner on second, she drilled a two-run shot to dead center to make it a four-run game.

Inside the Box Scores

• Giuliana Ialongo hit a solo home run in the first game and added a single in the second game.
• It was the first homer of her career.
• Riley Frickleton doubled, drove in one and walked once in each game.
• Natalie Maleitzke had two singles and one RBI in Game Two.
• Sydney Orndorff had two singles, one in each game.
• Becca Zawistowski doubled in the second game.
• Hannah Hernandez walked, stole a base and scored in the second game.
• Kylie Bulinski had one single and walked once in each game.
• The walk Bulinski drew in the top of the first in Game 1 was the 100th of her career. She is the first player in program history to reach 100 in the category.

Up Next
Rhode Island and Fordham close out the series with a single game Sunday at 12 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+.