Moon Township, Pa. ? The Robert Morris University softball team improved its record to 23-17 overall and 11-3 in Northeast Conference action with a pair of victories over NEC opponent Mount St. Mary's Sunday afternoon at the North Athletic Complex. The Colonials took game one, 6-1, before downing the Mountaineers, 10-4, in game two.
The Colonials jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Brenna Reed (Carnegie, Pa. / Montour) led off the inning with a single to right field that was followed by a Susan Perich (Center, Pa. / Center) single. After junior Kristin McDaniel (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury) sarificed Reed to third and Perich to second with a bunt, freshman Annie Dubovec (Chargin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) hit a two-run single to left center.
The Mount added their only run of the game in the top of the third inning to close within 2-1 when Amanda Burk doubled to left center, scoring Kristin Fusco.
RMU added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Freshman Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, De. / St. Marks) led off the inning with a single and junior Lauren Nisivoccia (Nutley, N.J. / Mount St. Dominic) followed by reaching first base after an error while trying to advance Calderone with a sacrifice. Junior Brooke Panepinto (Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon) successfully sacrificed both Calderone and Nisivoccia up a base before Perich drove both runners in with a two-run single.
Senior Camille Kline (Titusville, Pa. / Titusville) gave the Colonials two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when she doubled in Dubovec and McDaniel.
Reed tallied the victory for the Colonials, pitching seven innings and striking out seven batters. She allowed one run on five hits while walking a pair of batters.
Robert Morris jumped on the Mount early in game two of the afternoon with three runs in the third inning. Megan Lynch (Allison Park, Pa. / Shaler) got the Colonials going with a lead off home run, her eighth of the season. Two batters later, Panepinto reached on an error before Reed was walked. Perich singled to center to drive in a pair of runs and make the score 3-0 in favor of RMU.
The Mount got as close as they would all day, when they made the score, 3-2, in the top of the fourth inning, but the Colonials answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a home run from Kline. The Colonials put the game away with a five-run fifth inning, including two-run singles from Perich and Lynch sandwiced around an RBI single from Kline.
Mount St. Mary's scored two more runs in the top of the sixth, but Reed homered in her final at bat at the North Athletic Complex in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving the Colonials a 10-4 victory.
Lindsey Moates (Ocala, Fla. / Forest) recorded her 12th victory of the season, pitching seven innings while tallying five strikeouts. She allowed four runs on 10 hits while allowing no free passes.
The Colonials are next in action when they travel to Olean, N.Y., for a non-conference doubleheader with St. Bonaventure Wednesday, April 23. Game one of the doubleheader is at 3:00 p.m.
