The Rhode Island Rams softball is the team that represents the University of Rhode Island in NCAA Division I college softball. The team currently participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). The Rams are led by their head coach Whitney Goldstein. The team plays its home games at URI Softball Complex which is located on the university's campus.
History Despite making the NCAA Division I softball tournament in their first season in the Atlantic 10 Conference in 1983, the Rams have failed to return to win either a regular season or a conference tournament championship. By failing to win the latter, they have also failed to return to the NCAA tournament.
In the 1983 tournament, Rhode Island was placed in the Northeast Regional, where they were eliminated by UCLA in two games, both 1–0 extra inning losses.
The Rams have won several awards during their stint in the Atlantic 10. In 1994, Melissa Jarrell was named A–10 Coach of the Year. The program has won three A–10 Player of the Year awards, doing so in 1994 with Anne Kelsen and in 1997 and 1998 with Kellie Cookus.
In April 2014, six former players, two then-active players, and one assistant coach came out with accusations of alleged bullying by former head coach Erin Layton. The accusers claim abuse was overlooked by University of Rhode Island administration for years, with only a brief administrative leave as punishment. Several players and assistants reported mental and physical abuse dealt out by Layton. Despite the allegations, Layton received both a contract extension in July 2014 as well as the full support of the school, who stated that complaints were taken seriously and no wrongdoing was found to have occurred. Layton left the program after the 2015 season.
Rhode Island in the NCAA Tournament 1983 0–2 Northeast Regional 0-2
Coaching history 1978–1984 Nancy Langham 164–70–1 1985–1992 Sue Tougas 131–201–3 1993–1999 Melissa Jarrell 156–189–2 2000–2002 Kim Staehle 70–89–1 2003–2005 Christina Sutcliffe 44–88 2006–2008 Deb Smith 44–100 2009–2015 Erin Layton 87–260–2 2016–2021 Bridget Hurlman 61–167 2022–present Whitney Goldstein 34–66–1
Roster 2024 Rhode Island Rams roster Pitchers 28 – Ashley Arnold – Freshman 20 – Ashley Hibbard – Sophomore 12 – Anna Jardin – Freshman 11 – Liz Lynchard – Graduate Student 72 – Noelle Sterner – Junior 18 – Avery Vale-Cruz – Freshman 29 – Lauren Wasikowski – Sophomore 16 – Cameron Whiteford – Junior 22 – Katie Zaun – Junior
Catchers 2 – Kylie Bulinski – Sophomore 8 – Natalie Maleitzke – Freshman 25 – Vicki Viaclovsky – Senior Outfielders 10 – Leilyn Alvarez – Junior 31 – Mandi Hanewich – Sophomore 34 – Hannah Hernandez – Sophomore 7 – Skyler Rapuano – Graduate Student 5 – Sydney Yoder – Graduate Student
Infielders 17 – Riley Frickleton – Freshman 9 – Elena Gonzalez – Graduate Student 23 – Maddie Melice – Senior 30 – Emily Power – Junior 27 – Zoe Rensel – Freshman 3 – Cassie Swenson – Graduate Student 13 – Becca Zawistowski – Sophomore
Utility 4 – Casey Miller – Sophomore Reference:
Season-by-season results
Season cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic
See also List of NCAA Division I softball programs
References
External links