PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Robbie Mertz scored in the 55th minute to lift the Pitt Riverhounds to a 1-0 victory over Rhode Island in a USL Championship match Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The game-winning sequence involved multiple players, with assists credited to Junior Etou and JJ Williams. The match was a physical affair, featuring six yellow cards. Rhode Island played a man down after Marc Ybarra received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 60th minute. The Riverhounds began their season with a win, while Rhode Island opened with a loss.