Kissimmee, Fla. ? The Robert Morris University softball team continued play in the Rebel Games with a pair of outings on Wednesday afternoon. The Colonials got off to a rough start against Valparaiso losing 9-3, but managed to bounce back in their second game of the day against IPFW to record a 6-2 victory.
Sophomore pitcher Lindsey Moates (Ocala, Fla. / Forest) made her fourth start of the season for Robert Morris. Moates only lasted 2 2/3 innings before freshman Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) made a relief appearance.
It only took the Crusaders two innings to start their offensive charge that would put the Colonials in a difficult situation to overcome. Valpo put up six runs in the first three innings and added another three in the sixth.
The Colonials notched their only three runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Sarah Capp (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour) led the inning off with her first extra base fit of the year with a double. Pinch hitting, freshman Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) put down a solid single to give RMU base runners at first and third. A second pinch hitter, Megan Lynch (Allison Park, Pa. / Shaler) came up with a huge hit to drive in Capp and give RMU its first run of the day. Senior Brooke Panepinto (Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon) then notched a double to bring in another two runs.
However, Robert Morris could not manage to overcome the large deficit in the seventh and dropped the disappointing 9-3 decision to Valpo.
The second game began at a much slower pace with sophomore Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) on the rubber for RMU. However, the Colonials broke open the game in the fifth hitting. Thanks to a string of errors by IPFW and solid RMU hitting , Robert Morris put three runs on the board to take the lead.
Freshman Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) led off the fifth with a bunt to reach first. Senior Lauren Nisivoccia (Nutley, NJ / Mount St. Dominic) then jumped on first with an infield error. Panepinto grabbed her third RBI of the day with a base hit into left field that brought Timko in.
Senior Stacy Davidson (Akron, Ohio / Springfield) got on board with another IPFW error that allowed Nisivoccia and Panepinto to score.
As this point, the Colonials were up three in the fifth with just one out. Patton then walked to put Davidson at second. With two on, senior Kristin McDaniel (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury) hit a home run blast over the center field fence to give the Colonials a 6-0 advantage.
IPFW put one run up in the bottom of the fifth and one in the seventh, but RMU held strong to close out their fourth victory of the season.
Tomorrow, Robert Morris will face both Bucknell and Butler as the Rebel Spring Games continue in Kissimee, Fla. The Colonials will play Bucknell at 11 a.m. and Butler at 1 p.m.
