Moon Township, Pa. ? The Robert Morris University softball team improved to 9-9 overall and 2-0 in Northeast Conference action Saturday afternoon with a pair of victories over in-state rival Saint Francis (Pa.). The Colonials defeated the Red Flash (8-20 / 0-2 NEC) 4-3 in game one and 5-4 in game two at the North Athletic Complex.

The Colonials, lead by a pair of Brenna Reed (Carnegie, Pa. / Montour) home runs took game one, 4-3. Reed got Robert Morris on the board by leading off the bottom of the first inning with her first home run of the season. Saint Francis tied the game for only a half inning in the top of the fifth when Kelly Cortese singled, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kelly Slingwine drove her in two batters later as she grounded out to second base.

Robert Morris took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth when Stacy Davidson (Akron, Ohio / Springfield) singled to centre field scoring pinch runner Megan Picinic (Cliffside Park, N.J. / Immaculate Heart) from second base. The Red Flash tied the game for a second time in the sixth when Richele Hall doubled scoring Michelle Spisak.

The Colonials took a, 4-2, lead in their half of the sixth with a pair of solo home runs by Reed and Brooke Panepinto (Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon). Saint Francis added a run in the seventh with a Nicole Bender home run, but the Colonials held them off the board the rest of the inning taking the, 4-3, victory.

Reed recorded the victory for RMU allowing three runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. She also tallied eight strike outs.

Saint Francis jumped out to a, 1-0, lead in the third inning with a Nicole Bender home run. Robert Morris answered back in the bottom of the third taking the lead for good. Susan Perich (Center, Pa. / Center) singled with the bases loaded scoring Panepinto and Lauren Nisivoccia (Nutley, H.J. / Mount St. Dominic) giving RMU a, 2-1, lead with runners on first and third. The next batter, Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, De. / St. Marks), singled scoring pinch runner Picinic allowing Perich to advance to second. After a Camille Kline (Titusville, Pa. / Titusville) infield single, Kristin McDaniel (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury) walked allowing Perich to score the innings final run, making the score, 4-1 through three innings.

The Colonials added what would become the game winning run in the fourth, when Nisivoccia lead off the inning with a triple to right field. Panepinto then drove her in with a single up the middle making the score, 5-1.

The Red Flash added three runs in the sixth inning before Reed entered the game in relief of Lindsey Moates (Ocala, Fla. / Forest). Reed picked up the save pitching one and a third innings, allowing only two hits. Moates picked up her team high fifth victory, allowing four runs on 11 hits, while striking out four batters.

Robert Morris returns to action on Sunday, March 30 when they host Canisius. Game one is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m.