Kissimmee, Fla. - The Robert Morris University softball team kicked off its first day of action at the Rebel Spring Games early Tuesday as they faced Fairfield University and Butler University.  The Colonials outlasted the Stags of Fairfield as they won, 3-2, in eight innings while the squad was shutout by Butler, 3-0 in the second contest of the day.

Game One - Robert Morris vs. Fairfield

In the top of the third inning, Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) led off the frame with a double.  Sophomore Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del. / St. Marks) then drove in Crooks with an RBI single to take the one run lead.

The Stags tied the game in the bottom of the third, and then took a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

But the Colonials deadlocked the contest once more in the fifth when sophomore Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) tripled and eventually scored on a single by Katrina Gallagher (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canonsburg-McMillan).

Tied at the end of seven innings, the Colonials earned the game-winning run when Patton scored on a Stag error.

Sophomore Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) closed out the bottom of the eighth, and finally earned her first win of the 2010 season as she pitched a complete game win. She struck out 13 batters and allowed just four hits.

Game Two - Butler vs. Robert Morris

For the first time this season, the RMU bats were held silent as the Colonials were shut out by the Butler Bulldogs. 

The Bulldogs put up one run in the third and added a pair in the fifth inning.

Robert Morris left a runner on third in the fifth as they came up empty handed in the loss.

Junior Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) was tagged with the loss while allowing seven hits.  She struck out five and allowed three earned runs.

Robert Morris (2-5 ; 0-0 NEC) continues tournament play tomorrow when they tangle with LaSalle at 9:00 a.m. and St. Louis University at 11:00 a.m.