Rhode Island’s softball team lost a close 1-0 game in extra innings to East Texas A&M on Friday night at the Lion Invitational in Commerce, Texas. The Rams, now 1-1 on the season, were looking to open with two straight wins for the first time since 1999.
Despite getting runners on base in each of the first eight innings and placing 11 in scoring position, Rhode Island was unable to score against East Texas A&M starter Maddie Muller. In the top of the eighth inning, Julianne Torres started on second base and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt by Katie Knarr. After Brooke Fairbanks walked, Rhody had runners at the corners with one out. Sydney Orndorff hit a ball to third that resulted in Torres being caught in a rundown. Fairbanks and Orndorff advanced into scoring position during the play, but Riley Frickleton grounded out to end the threat.
In the bottom half of the eighth inning, East Texas A&M’s Zoey Hipolito began on second base and moved to third after Emmie Miehe’s sacrifice bunt. Emma Rodriguez then hit a grounder that allowed Hipolito to score when Rhode Island’s drawn-in infield could not make a play, ending the game.
Ashley Hibbard started for Rhode Island and did not allow a hit until Tatum Wright singled for East Texas A&M leading off the fourth inning. Hibbard pitched 5.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts before Sarah Trosin entered in relief. Trosin took the loss despite allowing just one hit over two innings; she was not charged with an earned run as it was an automatic runner who scored.
Among Rhody’s offensive highlights: Katie Knarr had both a double and single; Hannah Hernandez recorded two singles, drew a walk, stole a base, and has two hits in each of her first two games this season; Sydney Orndorff singled and walked; Becca Zawistowski doubled and walked as well.
Catcher Brooke Fairbanks threw out KK Cosek attempting to steal in the second inning. Meg McNally made her first career start for Rhode Island in left field.
Next up for Rhode Island are games against Grambling State at 4:45 p.m. EST and Jackson State at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday. Both contests will be streamed live via LionAthletics.com.
