MoonTownship, Pa. ? In their final home outings of the weekend, the Robert Morris University softball team put in a long days work as they played a total of 19 innings in just one afternoon. The Colonials earned a 4-2 win in the first half of the double feature, but dropped a hard fought 6-9 loss in twelve innings in the second contest.
In game one, the Pioneers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top half of the first. However, the Colonials would hold them scoreless for the remainder of the contest in route to their 4-2 win.
Recording another win for Robert Morris was freshman hurler Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe). Bryson picked up eight strikeouts while walking three in the victory.
The Colonials tallied all four of their runs in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Lauren Nisivoccia (Nutely, NJ / Mount St. Dominics) singled to left to drive in Kristin McDaniel (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury) for RMU's first score of the day. Freshman Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) then smashed a double to clear the bases and score three as she completed the Colonial's scoring run in the first conquest.
Much like the first game, it was the Pioneers who struck first again in the second outing of the day. Sacred Heart scored one run in the second inning and an additional two in the third to take a 3-0 lead. The Pioneers then added one more in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 4-0 going into the final innings.
Determined to rally back, the Colonials posted three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 4-3. During the inning, RMU received key hits from seniors McDaniel and Nisivoccia while underclassmen Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) and Timko also recorded base hits to propel Robert Morris back into the game.
Still down 4-3, the Colonials finally scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Susan Perich (Center, Pa. / Center) hurried home to score as McDaniel recorded her second hit and first RBI of the day to tie the game at four all.
In the 11th inning, each team recorded a run to send the deadlocked contest into another inning of grueling play.
The Pioneers finally managed to break the game wide open as they exploded with four runs in the top of the 12th inning to make the score 9-5. The Colonials fought valiantly in the bottom half of the inning, but they came up short with just one run.
After splitting with both NEC opponents this weekend, the Colonials will travel to face the Youngstown State Penguins on Tuesday afternoon at McCune Park for more double header action.
