Moon Township, Pa. - On a cold and windy Saturday, the Robert Morris University softball team opened another weekend of Northeast Conference action at the North Athletic Complex against Bryant University. With difficult weather conditions, the Colonials and Bulldogs had a tough time jumpstarting their offenses as both games featured a more defensive tone. In game one, Robert Morris edged Bryant, 2-1, while the Bulldogs fought back to win the second contest in an extra-inning battle, 4-3.
Sophomore pitcher Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) opened the day with six consecutive outs and only allowed two Bulldogs to reach base in the first five innings. The second-year starter retired nine and did not allow a single earned run on just two hits.
The Colonials tallied their first run in the bottom of the first when Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) reached base on an error and eventually scored on an RBI single from Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del. / St. Marks).
With RMU holding the 1-0 lead, Bryant knotted the game at one all in the top of the third frame.
But it was the Colonials who would hang in for the win as they scored what would be the game-winning run in the fifth. Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) singled up the middle with two outs to send home Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) and put Robert Morris on top, 2-1.
Bryson then escaped the sixth and seventh innings to earn her 13th win of the season.
Dubovec made the start for the Colonials in game two, but after allowing five hits and one run in the first two innings, Bryson returned to the circle.
The Bulldogs took a 3-0 edge into the sixth inning with single runs in the second, fourth and sixth frames.
However, RMU would put up a trio of scores in the bottom of the sixth to force the game into extra innings. In the three-run, three-hit explosion , Sarah Capp (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour) drove in the first RMU run with her RBI-single. Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) then drew a walk with the bases loaded to score another. Finally with two outs, Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) scored the tying run on a Bulldog fielding error.
Robert Morris and Bryant would play a scoreless final inning, but the Bulldogs came up with the game winner in the top of the eighth thanks to a double from Allie Chouinard.
The Colonials fell short as they could not come up with another run in the bottom of the eighth.
Bryson took the loss in game two, but struck out another seven.
Tomorrow at noon, the Colonials (18-14 ; 8-3 NEC) close out the home portion of their NEC slate as Central Connecticut State visits for a double feature.
