The Rhode Island Rams softball team split a doubleheader against UMass Lowell on April 7, winning the first game 11-3 in six innings before dropping the second game 2-0.
The results mark a mixed day for the Rams, who showed strong offense in the opener but struggled to capitalize on opportunities in the nightcap. The split brings Rhode Island’s record to 10-18, while UMass Lowell moves to an even 18-18.
In Game One, Rhode Island overcame an early deficit after trailing by three runs. Key hits from Riley Frickleton and Kylie Bulinski tied the score, and Frickleton added another run-scoring single later. Pitcher Brooke Gerry settled in after allowing three runs early, retiring nine straight batters through the middle innings and giving up just two hits over her final four frames. A seven-run sixth inning sealed the mercy-rule victory for Rhode Island as contributions came from multiple players including Katie Knarr, Rayah Snyder, Giuliana Ialongo, Casey Miller, Hannah Hernandez, Becca Zawistowski, Sydney Orndorff and others.
Game Two saw Rhode Island get runners aboard every inning but fail to bring any home despite loading the bases three times. UMass Lowell pitcher Giana LaCedra allowed seven hits and three walks while hitting five batters; however, she stranded all sixteen Rams runners. The River Hawks scored both their runs in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly by Isabel Quintanilla and a line drive from Ella VanAlstyne that brought Elizabeth Neeld across home plate.
Several individual performances stood out during Tuesday’s games: Brooke Gerry recorded ten strikeouts for her first win of the season; Giuliana Ialongo collected four hits across both games; Casey Miller went three-for-four with a double and scored three times; Sydney Orndorff had three hits including a double; Riley Frickleton contributed two hits and two RBI; Hannah Hernandez reached her fortieth career stolen base milestone—becoming only the fifth player in program history to do so—and Olivia Kuhnel pitched over three scoreless relief innings in Game Two.
Rhode Island is scheduled to play its next game against Bryant University on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
