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

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

How It Happened
Rhode Island salvaged the final game of the series, holding off Fordham 5-4 Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 1-0 after four innings, Rhody (16-23, 5-13 Atlantic 10) broke through with five runs in the top of the fifth. Meg McNally led off with a walk, and Hannah Hernadez followed with a single. With one out, Kylie Bulinski singled to bring in McNally with the tying run. Natalie Maleitzke was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Becca Zawistowski, who singled up the middle to drive in Hernandez and Bulinski. With two outs, Rayah Snyder reached on an error that allowed both Maleitzke and Zawistowski to come in for a 5-1 lead.

Fordham (18-24, 9-9 A-10) scored the first run in the bottom of the second. Eva Koratsis led off with a double and moved to third on an infield single by Ava Vandermoth. Victoria Klimaszewski drove Koratsis in with a single. Though Fordham had the bases loaded with one out, Rhody's Ashley Hibbard induced an infield fly and a fly out to end the threat without further damage.

Hibbard (3-4) kept Fordham at bay until the bottom of the sixth. The hosts got the first two runners on base, as Klimaszewski walked and Neleh Nogay was hit by a pitch. The game was halted due to rain, and the tarp was put on the field.

The teams returned to the field after a nearly two-and-a-half-hour delay. Olivia Kuhnel came on in relief of Hibbard. After Mikayla Swan singled to drive in Klimaszewski, Kuhnel got Kate McGuire to ground into a double play that cut down Nogay at the plate. A line out by Sadira Forcucci ended the sixth with Rhody in front, 5-2.

Fordham did not go quietly in the seventh. Nicki Sudall was hit by a pitch, and Eva Koratsis singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Kuhnel got a pop out off the bat of Sophie Nesturrick and struck out Morgan Volgraf for the second out. Klimaszewski doubled to center, driving in Sudall and Koratsis to make the score 5-4 and put the tying run on second base. However, Kuhnel got Neleh Nogay to fly out, ending the game in the process.

Inside the Box Score

• Ashley Hibbard pitched 5.0 innings and scattered four hits, five walks and four hit batsmen. She allowed just two runs while evening her season record at 4-4.
• Meg McNally singled, walked scored a run and had a stolen base. She has hit safely in four of her last six games.
• Sydney Orndorff singled and walked.
• Kylie Bulinski singled, drew two walks, scored once and had an RBI. She has reached base safely in 20 straight games, collecting 20 hits and 23 walks in that span.
• Bulinski has walked at least one time in nine straight games.
• Becca Zawistowski delivered two hits, including a two-run single.
• Hannah Hernandez singled and scored once.
• Natalie Maleitzke was hit by a pitch and scored once.
• It was the 11th time inn her career she has been hit by a pitch, which ranks 10th in program history.

Up Next
Rhode Island plays a single game at Boston University Tuesday, April 21. The game begins at 1 p.m. and it is scheduled to stream on ESPN+.