Loretto, Pa. ? The Robert Morris University softball team was back in action on Saturday afternoon on the campus of NEC foe, Saint Francis (Pa). The Colonials made quick work of the Red Flash as they brought home two, 3-2, victories.
Robert Morris now moves to 21-16 on the season and 8-3 in NEC play with the sweep of Saint Francis (Pa.).
In game one, the Colonials opened scoring in the top of the third with freshman Sarah Capp's (McKees Rocks / Montour) triple to start off the inning. Capp then scored the first RMU run as she stole home to go up 1-0. Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) reached base when she was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a throwing error by the Red Flash second baseman to take a 2-0 advantage.
The Colonials then scored the game winning run in the top half the six inning when senior Susan Perich (Center, Pa. / Center) doubled to right center and came home on Kristin McDaniel's (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury) fly out to win the game, 3-2.
The Red Flash attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh as they scored two, but their effort fell short.
RMU then moved on to the second contest where the team picked up another 3-2 victory over the Red Flash.
Robert Morris put up their first run in the second inning as Perich singled and eventually scored on another RBI hit by McDaniel. Much like the first game, the Colonials tallied an additional run in the sixth when pinch runner Katrina Gallagher (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) scored from third on an RBI single by Crooks.
Saint Francis (Pa.) rallied in the bottom of the six to tie the game at two all, but the Colonials struck back with the winning run in the top of the seventh inning.
Senior Lauren Nisivoccia (Nutley, NJ / Mount St. Dominic) led off the inning with a single and reached home to score the game winning run thanks to a key single from Perich.
Freshman pitcher Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) put forth another stellar performance as she extended her win streak to five games and improved her record to 16-3. She allowed a combined total of four earned runs, struck out 19 and issued zero walks.
The Colonials will kick off a busy week on Wednesday at Cleveland State with a double header. Next weekend, RMU will return home for their final regular season contests of 2009 against NEC opponents, Long Island and Wagner.
