Emmitsburg, Md.. - The Robert Morris University softball team pushed its winning streak to five games as the Colonials earned their second consecutive series sweep at Mount St. Mary's on Saturday afternoon. With a balanced attack of solid pitching and explosive hitting, the Colonials handed Mount a 7-3 loss in game one, and a 6-1 defeat in game two.
With the win, RMU stays tied for second in the NEC standings with an overall record of 23-15 and 11-4 in conference action.
Second-year hurler Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) earned the win on the mound as she retired seven batters and allowed three runs on six hits in the opening match-up.
Robert Morris put two on the board in the top half of the first as Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del. / St. Marks), Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) and Sarah Capp (McKees Rocks, Montour) picked up three consecutive singles.
Mount got back one run in the second, but RMU responded when Calderone tripled and scored on a Dubovec sacrifice fly in the top of the third frame.
In the fourth, the Colonials surged with another big inning thanks to hits from senior Megan Picinic (Cliffside, NJ / Immaculate Heart) and freshman Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown). Junior Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) also picked up a RBI double in the three-hit, one error inning.
With the a 6-1 advantage, RMU added a final run in the fifth when Dubovec walked an eventually scored on a single from Picinic.
Mount scored a pair in the fifth, but it would not be enough to overcome the Colonials as they took the, 7-3, decision.
Dubovec made the start in the circle for Robert Morris in the second contest and picked up her second straight win as she allowed just one run in seven innings of action. She also had a great game at the plate as she went three-for-four.
The Colonials touched home twice in the first inning as Dubovec doubled to left center to score the first tally. Dubovec then scored the second run on a single from Capp.
In the top of the third, RMU added another trio of runs with the help of a two-run home run from Picinic.
The Mount grabbed their lone run in the bottom of the third, but Dubovec would hold them to just one hit in the remaining four innings.
Calderone and Dubovec continued to be a one-two punch with back-to-back hits in the fifth to score the Colonials sixth, and final run.
With the 6-1 win, Robert Morris will take its five-game winning streak to Long Island, N.Y. as they face the NEC's top squad, Long Island on May 1. The next day, the Colonials will close out regular season conference play at Wagner.
