Charlotte, N.C. - Junior Jaci Timko's (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers Houston) third hit of the game drove in freshman Chelsea Evans (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Riverside) with the game-winning run in the seventh inning as the Robert Morris University softball team never trailed in defeating top-seed James Madison, 3-2, in the semifinals of Charlotte's Green and White Tournament Saturday afternoon at the D.L. Phillips Complex.
With the win, the Colonials advanced to Sunday's championship game against the host 49ers and also handed the Dukes their first loss of the tournament.
Robert Morris had previously wrapped up round-robin play Saturday morning, suffering a 7-2 setback to Seton Hall.
Timko collected a three-hit game for the second consecutive day by going 3-for-4 with a run, a RBI and a steal in the semifinal game. Freshman first baseman Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) also contributed offensively by reaching in all three trips to the plate by going 2-for-2 with a walk as she recorded her first-career multi-hit game.
Junior Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Latrobe Area) recorded the win in the circle for RMU by throwing the team's first complete game of the season and became just the fifth Colonial pitcher to reach the 40-win plateau for her career in the process. Bryson's fourth strikeout of the game also moved her into sole possession of fourth place on RMU's all-time strikeout list as she finished the day with 431.
Robert Morris got an edge right away in the top of the first when Timko led off the game with a single up the middle. After Timko swiped second with the first steal of her season, captain Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del. / St. Mark's) sacrificed her to third before sophomore Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) delivered a clutch two-out single to center to give RMU the lead.
James Madison started their half of the first with a leadoff double, but Bryson immediately calmed the Dukes' bats as she retired each of the next eight in a row. The Dukes put together a threat in the third by putting runners on the corners with two outs but Bryson induced a groundout to maintain the lead.
The Colonials added to their advantage in the fourth courtesy of a pair of James Madison miscues. Senior Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) reached on a two-base error, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and came around to score after an errant throw by the Dukes' catcher.
James Madison was able to finally push runs across in the fifth as the Dukes tied the game on a trio of singles and a groundout.
After a scoreless sixth, the teams entered the final frame in a 2-2 deadlock before Timko came through for RMU.
Evans worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a groundout and reached third courtesy of a wild pitch. Timko then banged a single up the middle to put RMU back on top.
The Colonials still had to retire the Dukes in the home half, though, and James Madison refused to go quietly. The Dukes put the leadoff man on and advanced the tying run in scoring position with a sacrifice. Bryson's only walk of the game put the winning run on base with two outs, but the junior sent the RMU faithful home happy by getting a popup to short to conclude the game.
Grafton went 2-for-4 against James Madison to notch a multi-hit game for the second consecutive day, the seventh overall of her career. The Colonials handed Dukes' senior pitcher Olivia McPherson her first loss of the season.
In its first game of the day, RMU took an early lead, but the Pirates used a pair of three-run innings to take control in the middle portion of the game.
The Colonials scored in the first, which they have done thus far in all four games of 2011, when Timko led off with a single, Calderone reached on a fielder's choice sacrifice and senior Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) singled through the left side.
After Seton Hall scored three in the third, RMU had a chance to return the favor in the home half when sophomore Jessica Tanigawa (Marysville, Wash. / Marysville-Pitchuck) led off the frame with her second-career triple, RMU's first of the season, and Timko followed with a walk, but the Pirates were able to escape the inning without any damage.
Seton Hall added three more in the fourth and was able to hold on for the victory despite RMU bringing six batters to the plate in the seventh.
Freshman Geena Badolato (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) pitched four and two-thirds effective innings against Seton Hall, allowing just two earned runs.
Siar went 3-for-5 with a walk on the day while Timko went 4-for-7 in the pair of games with a walk. Timko is 8-for-12 thus far in 2011 with three walks.
Robert Morris will conclude play in Charlotte Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. as it plays for the tournament championship. The Colonials will be looking to defeat the 49ers for the second time in three days as RMU took down Charlotte in its season opener Friday, 11-7, after rallying from a pair of four-run deficits.
