Moon Township, Pa. - On Sunday morning, the Robert Morris University softball team continued conference play as the Hawks of Monmouth University visited for a double header at the North Athletic Complex.  In the opening game, the Colonials held a two-run lead heading into the final inning.  However the Hawks exploded with a seven run effort in the last frame to top Robert Morris, 13-8.  Due to the rainy conditions, game two was postponed until a later date.

Two seemed to be the magic number for the Colonials on Sunday as the squad put up a pair of runs in the first, second, fifth and sixth innings.

Sophomore pitcher Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe)  made the start in the circle and pitched over six innings as she retired seven batters in only her fourth loss of the 2010 season.

After the Hawks opened the contest by taking a one run lead,  Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del  / St. Marks) and Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) both singled to help RMU respond and claim a 2-1 advantage.

The Colonials tacked on another two in the next inning when Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) doubled to drive in another pair of runs.

Down 5-4 going into the bottom of the fifth, senior Megan Picinic (Cliffside, NJ / Immaculate Heart) hit a double down the left field line to put RMU back on top, 6-5.

Continuing the back-and-forth trend of the contest, Monmouth deadlocked the score in the top of the sixth frame. 

But once more, Robert Morris answered with the help of a clutch Dubovec single to take a 8-6 lead into the final outs.

The Hawks, determined to rally again, tagged Bryson for seven runs in the top of the seventh to put the contest out of reach for the Colonials.

The two squads saw the day come to an early end as umpires ruled the field unfit to play due to heavy rain.

On Wednesday, the Colonials (8-10 ; 2-1 NEC) return to non-conference action as Youngstown State visits for a twin bill that is schedule to begin at 3 p.m.

In the opening game, the Knights grabbed a single run in the first.  However, Robert Morris would fire back with four runs in the bottom of the frame and another four spot in the second inning.  In the first, the Colonials tallied five hits, including two-RBI singles from Calderone and Sarah Capp (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour).

The second inning's scoring frenzy was highlighted by another pair of RBIs from Calderone when she doubled to right field.

To cap off the win, RMU added a final run in the bottom of the fifth to conclude the game thanks to the eight-run mercy rule.

In game two, the Colonials got back to work immediately after the Knights opened the game with a lead-off homer.  In a four-run first inning, freshman Maritza Jimenez (Vineland, NJ / Vineland) recorded her first career home run as she sent a two-run blast over the left field fence.

Robert Morris followed up with another surge in the second inning as the squad batted around the order to tack on six more runs.  Calderone and Capp kept their bats hot as both notched doubles in the frame.  salso batted in two runs with a single to deep right center.

Holding a 10-1 going into the third, the Colonials continued to hit as Picinic singled again to pick up a pair of RBIs in back-to-back innings to lead another four-run charge.

Finally in the bottom of the fourth, RMU closed out its impressive day with Dubovec's three-run blast to center field.

Tomorrow's twin bill against Monmouth will now begin at 10:00 a.m. due to forecasted weather conditions.