Kissimmee, Fla. ? For the third straight day, the Robert Morris University softball team took part in the Rebel Spring Games. On Thursday afternoon, the Colonials faced the Butler Bulldogs and Bucknell Bison. Both of their opponents proved to be good competition as RMU needed an extra inning to depose of each squad.
In the first game against the Bulldogs, Butler took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning and added another in the top of the fourth for a 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Colonials cut the lead in half when freshman Sarah Capp (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour) drove in senior Kristin McDaniel (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury) to put Robert Morris on the board for the first time of the day.
Still down by one going into the bottom of the seventh, RMU put together a rally when freshman Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) singled to get on first. After a sacrifice by Lauren Nisivoccia (Nutley, NJ / Mount St. Dominic), senior Brooke Panepinto (Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon) doubled to center field to tie the game at two all.
Butler quickly answered in the top of the eighth when Mallory Winters hit a three run shot off of Colonial pitcher, Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe Area) to take a 5-2 lead.
However, the Colonials were not ready to throw in the towel. With tiebreaker rules in place, McDaniel hit a single to drive in Stacy Davidson (Akron, Ohio / Springfield) who was placed on second at the start of the inning. The rally continued when Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa / Brashear) singled and advanced McDaniel to second. Capp then got on board with a Butler error to also score McDaniel. Timko then came up to score Crooks with an impressive bunt.
With the Colonials tied once more, Robert Morris caught a break to win 6-5 as the Bulldogs gave RMU the winning run on a fielding error by the shortstop.
The excitement continued into the second contest against Bucknell. The Colonials put two up in the top of the third when Timko recorded her first career home run. The home run also brought in freshman Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) who reached base with a walk.
Robert Morris added a third run in the top of the sixth when another freshman, Capp, also notched her first career home run. Capp's solo shot put the Colonials up 3-0.
In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, the Bison rallied behind Alyssa Okita's three run blast to tie the game at three a piece.
RMU went back to work in the top of the eighth looking to put Bucknell away for the final time. With tiebreaker rules in place for the second time of the day, senior Susan Perich (Center, Pa. / Center) was placed on second. McDaniel then moved her to third with a sacrifice.
To finally seal the win, freshman Katrina Gallagher (Canonsburg, Pa. /Canon-McMillan) singled to left field to bring in Perich and grab the fourth and winning run for the Colonials.
After two exciting wins, Robert Morris hopes to continue their three game winning streak as they will face Maine and SIU-Edwardsville tomorrow. The games will commence at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
