Hackensack, NJ - After a disappointing loss Friday morning, the Robert Morris University softball team faced the #3 Bobcats of Quinnipiac University in the squad's second contest at the 2010 Northeast Conference Championships. After playing seven scoreless innings, the Colonials found three runs in the top of the eighth to upset the #3 Bobcats, 3-0.
In what looked to be a repeat of a game with Quinnipiac earlier in the regular season, the two starting hurlers went the distance in the pitchers duel. Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) bounced back after a tough loss earlier in the day to earn the complete game shut out. She struck out five and walked three as she allowed just four hits in eight innings of work.
Robert Morris threatened offensively in the second and fourth frames as the team left a pair of runners on base in each inning. However, the Colonials finally came up with the runs they were looking for in the eighth.
Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) started the inning with a single and scored when Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) hit a ground-rule double down the left field line. Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brasher) then blasted a two-out, two-run homer to left field to put RMU up, 3-0.
Bryson quickly closed out the Bobcats as she forced three straight outs in the bottom of the eighth to pick up her 20th win of the 2010 season.
Tomorrow, #4 Robert Morris and #2 Monmouth will meet at 10:00 a.m. in a final elimination game. The winner will go on to face the Long Island Blackbirds in the 2010 NEC Championship Game.
