Clearwater, Fla. - After a disappointing start to the 2010 campaign, the Robert Morris University softball team finally earned its first victory of the season on Saturday afternoon in the USF Under Armour Tournament. Although the Colonials fell, 8-5, in game one to Boston University, the squad bounced back with a 3-2 triumph over the University of Toledo later in the day.
Game One - Boston University vs. Robert Morris
Robert Morris opened the day with a morning contest against Boston University. The Terriers put three quick runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning.
The Colonials then answered with three of the their own in the top half of the third with the help of hits from sophomores Katrina Gallagher (Canonsburg, Pa. /Canonsburg-McMillan) and Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del. / St. Marks) and junior, Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston).
In the bottom of the inning, the Terriers added one more run and regained a 4-3 lead.
However, the RMU bats came alive again in the top of the fourth as the Colonials took their first lead of the game with two tallies to make the score, 5-4 in their favor. The two runs were helped by two BU errors and a RBI single from Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear).
But after a few quiet innings, the Terriers surged with two runs in the fourth and an additional pair in the sixth to power Boston over RMU, 8-5.
Sophomore Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) had three hits and one RBI in the loss.
Sophomore hurler Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) picked up the loss while allowing eight runs on 12 hits.
Game 2 - Robert Morris vs. Toldeo
After a short break, Robert Morris returned to the field for a second game with the University of Toledo.
RMU took a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the second when senior Megan Picinic (Cliffside, NJ / Immaculate Heart) singled and scored later on a wild pitch.
Toledo then tied the game in the top half of the following inning, but RMU took a lead once more when freshman Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) belted her first career homer during the bottom of the third frame.
The Rockets then knotted the game for a second time in the top of the seventh, but Robert Morris finally snatched the win in the bottom of the eighth when Dubovec singled to center field to score Crooks.
Dubovec also picked up the win from the circle as she allowed two runs and four hits in her first victory of the 2010 season.
The Colonials (1-3 ; 0-0 NEC) conclude their appearance at the USF hosted event in Clearwater tomorrow with a lone additional contest against the University of Massachusetts at 9:00 a.m. After enjoying Monday off, RMU will resume play in Orlando, Fla. when the open the Rebel Spring games with match-ups against Fairfield and Butler.
