The University of Rhode Island softball team took the trek to Elon, North Carolina over the weekend to faceoff in the Elon Softball Classic. They had contests against Longwood and Elon on Saturday and a double-header with the Pirates of Seton Hall on Sunday.
Saturday did not go the Rams way, as they dropped both games of their split double-header. The Lancers, who were the reigning champions of their conference in the Big South, got the scoring started in the top of the first with a single off the bat of Mason Basdikis scoring Alexis Wayland.
Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when sophomore infielder Ari Castillo hit a bullet down the left-field line that found its way over the fence putting the Rams up 2-1 on Longwood. Just one out away from opening their season with a win, Longwood freshman Kelly Park beat out an infield single that scored junior infielder Leah Powell to knot the game at two.
The Lancers went on to score three more unanswered runs when freshman Nia Green successfully stole third base and then scored on a throwing error by Rhody catcher Susan Harrison. This would then be followed by senior shortstop Kasey Carr scoring on a wild pitch by URI freshman pitcher CeCe Sidley.
The Rams ultimately would fall by a score of 5-2.
Game two of the twin bill wasn’t any easier for URI. Elon’s veteran hurler Kenna Quinn tossed a four-hit shutout for the Lancers to earn the sweep on the day.
The team faced Seton Hall on Sunday to cap off the weekend. They picked up their first win of the season in the first game, behind a gem from the Rams ace pitcher senior Sarah Gunderson, who was selected as the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the week.
Rhody was held scoreless for the first five innings until the top of the sixth when freshman Rachel Zingerman launched her first career home run to knot the game at one. With two outs in the top of the seventh and sophomore Faith Musselwhite on second, sophomore outfielder Sami Villarreal drove her in with a double to put the Rams up 2-1.
In game two freshman Liz Lynchard made her first collegiate start and allowed five runs in her first inning of work. However, Lynchard was relieved by CeCe Sidley after rolling just 0.2 innings. Sidley would stifle the Pirates offense only allowing two runs in five innings out of the Rams bullpen. It was too little too late for the Rams as the only offense they could muster was a two runs batted in single by freshman Rachel Zingernan in the bottom of the third.
The Rams will travel down to Charlotte, North Carolina to participate in the First Pitch Classic hosted by the Charlotte ‘49ers this upcoming weekend, starting the series against the host team Charlotte on friday afternoon.