Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University softball team closed out the home portion of its NEC schedule on Sunday afternoon as the squad hosted Central Connecticut State University for two games. Once again, the teams were forced to battle cold and gusty conditions as the Blue Devils needed only five innings to beat the Colonials, 11 -3, in game one. However, Robert Morris rallied late in the second contest to outlast CSSU, 7-6 in eight frames.
Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) made the start on the mound for the Colonials, but lasted only a few batters into the first inning as the Blue Devils tagged her for four quick scores. Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) then pitched the remainder of the game as struck out four batters in the loss.
The Colonials got three runs back as they headed into the fifth inning still down, 5-3. But CCSU surged with a six-run frame to quickly put away Robert Morris, 11-3.
Game two got off to another difficult start for RMU as the Blue Devils earned two runs in the top of the first.
Sarah Capp (McKees Rocks, Pa / Montour) kicked off the second with a single and eventually scored when Maritza Jimenez (Vineland, NJ / Vineland) doubled center field.
Central Connecticut tacked on another run in the third, but again RMU rebounded when Dubovec led off the fourth with a home run to center field. With two outs, Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) singled to tie the game at three-all at the end of four.
The Blue Devils put two runs on the board in the sixth, and added a score in the top of the seventh to head into the final three outs up, 6-3.
With one out, Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) notched an infield single to reach base. Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) then followed up with a walk to put a pair of Colonials on. One batter later, Dubovec smashed a three-run blast over the center field fence to record her second homer of the day as she tied the game at six.
Forced into extra innings for the second consecutive day, Bryson saw five batters in the CCSU eighth as she held the side scoreless.
Freshman Jessica Tanigawa (Marysville, Wash. / Marysville-Pitchuck) opened the bottom of the eighth with an infield single. After she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Patton doubled down the left field line to score Tanigawa and win the game, 7-6.
Bryson earned the win in the second contest with five strikeouts in eight innings.
Robert Morris (19-15 ; 9-4 NEC) travels to Olean, N.Y. on Tuesday for a double header against the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
