Hamden, Conn. - After a short one-week break from conference action, the Robert Morris University softball team returned to Northeast Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Quinnipiac University. In game one, the the Bobcats edged the Colonials, 1-0. However, RMU fought back in the second feature as they downed Quinnipiac, 6-5.
In a relatively quiet game, the two squads went through the first three innings without a scoring a single run. The Bobcats finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth as they got the game-winning run off of a solo shot from Alex Alba.
The lone run would be enough for Quinnipiac as they managed to hold the Colonials scoreless through the remainder of the pitchers' duel.
Despite picking up the loss, sophomore hurler Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) had a strong outing as she struck out nine Bobcat batters and allowed only two hits.
Game two held more of an offensive tone, with Robert Morris scoring back-to-back runs in the third and fourth innings. Senior Megan Picinic (Cliffside, NJ / Immaculate Heart) opened up the Colonials' scoring in the top of the third with a solo homerun to center field. Junior Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) then followed suit in the fourth with a solo shot of her own, boosting the lead to 2-0.
The Bobcats wouldn't go down without a fight, however, and scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead in half.
Robert Morris' home run rally wasn't finished quiet yet. When the Colonials loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, freshman Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) smashed her first career grand-slam to put RMU up 6-1.
Quinnipiac added another two runs in the fifth, and rounded the bases twice more in the bottom of the sixth but it was not enough to top the Colonials as they walked away with the 6-5 triumph.
Bryson also started game two as she bounced back with a win. She pitched just over four innings before Dubovec entered in relief.
Tomorrow, the Colonials will visit Sacred Heart to continue their eastern conference road trip. Robert Morris and the Pioneers are set to tangle in a twin bill starting at 2 p.m.
