Olean, N.Y. - On Tuesday, the Robert Morris University softball team earned a sweep at St. Bonaventure University as the squad extended its winning streak to three. Lead by strong pitching, the Colonials easily downed the Bonnies, 7-1, in the first contest and 7-2 in the second half of the double feature.
Picking up the win in game one was sophomore pitcher, Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe). In her 24th start of the 2010 season, Bryson moved to 16-8 as she struck out eight and only allowed two hits in six scoreless innings of action.
The Colonials got to work early as they put their first run on the board when Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del. / St. Marks) singled and scored on a triple from Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston).
The Bonnies then settled in as they held RMU scoreless until the sixth inning where they tacked on another run. However, the Colonial bats went wild in the seventh frame as they put up five runs on six hits.
Freshmen Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) and Alicia Straining (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Sophomores Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) and Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) also added hits to push the score to 4-0. Calderone and Dubovec continued the hitting frenzy as both doubled to close out the inning with RMU holding a 7-0 lead.
St. Bonaventure scored a lone run in the sixth, but it was not enough as the Colonials earned the 7-1 win.
In game two, the Colonials kept the bats hot as they scattered six runs through the first four innings. Timko singled and Patton doubled help Robert Morris take a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
RMU tacked on another pair when Timko singled for the second straight inning to drive in Straining.
Calderone recorded her second double of the day in the third to push the Colonial lead to 5-0.
With a five-run advantage, Jessica Tanigawa (Marysville, Wash. / Marysville-Pitchuck) singled and scored as Timko picked up her third hit and second RBI of the game as she drove in Tanigawa.
The Bonnies finally got a run in the fifth, but it was not enough as RMU held on to win, 7-2.
Dubovec pitched all seven innings and allowed two runs as she retired four in her sixth win.
The Colonials (21-15 ; 9-4 NEC) will play a single NEC doubleheader on Saturday in Emmitsburg, Md. when the team travels to face Mount St. Mary's.
