Rhode Island will host Loyola Chicago for a three-game softball series in Kingston, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 11, followed by a single game on Sunday. The games are important as the Rams aim to improve their position in the Atlantic 10 standings and secure a spot in the postseason championship.
The series comes at a crucial point for Rhode Island, which is currently 1.5 games behind sixth place with twelve conference games remaining. Only the top six teams qualify for the Atlantic 10 Championship.
Loyola Chicago leads the all-time matchup between these teams, winning nine out of ten previous meetings. Rhode Island’s only win came during the 2024 season at home. In past encounters, Rhode Island has scored two runs or fewer each time. The Ramblers have relied heavily on sacrifice bunts this season and lead the conference with twenty-five sacrifices. Loyola’s Abbie Gregus has caught more opponents stealing than any other player in the league with eleven, while Rhode Island’s Kylie Bulinski is second with seven and also leads all players with a .543 on-base percentage. Pitchers Brooke Gerry and Ashley Hibbard from Rhode Island are tied for second in strikeouts per seven innings at 7.1.
In their most recent game against Bryant, Rhode Island executed a rare triple play—the sixth such play across all Division I softball this year—helping them secure victory after tying at six runs apiece in the fifth inning.
Currently midway through conference play, Rhode Island holds a record of four wins and eight losses and sits tied for eighth place alongside St. Bonaventure. Teams immediately ahead include Fordham and George Mason (both one game behind fifth-place Saint Louis), as well as George Washington (6-6). The Rams have upcoming matchups against these rivals that could impact their playoff chances: three games each against Fordham (April 18-19), George Washington (April 25-26), and George Mason (May 2-3). This weekend’s opponent, Loyola Chicago, sits atop the conference standings.
