Smithfield, R.I. - Freshman Geena Badolato (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) twirled a three-hit shutout and senior Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) and sophomore Maritza Jimenez (Vineland, N.J. / Vineland) both drilled home runs as the Robert Morris University softball team ended Bryant's 12-game winning streak with a 7-0 victory on the road in Northeast Conference (NEC) action on a cool and sunny day Saturday afternoon.
Bryant had extended its winning streak by taking the opener of the doubleheader, 5-1.
Badolato allowed just three hits, all singles, and registered a team season-high 12 strikeouts as she has now registered her highest two 'K' totals of the season in her last two appearances. The three hits were a season low for the rookie when throwing at least seven innings in a game.
Dubovec registered a team-high four hits as she went 4-for-7 with a double and the home run along with three RBI. She notched three hits in the nightcap to record at least a trio of hits in a game for a team-high fourth time this season and the 10th time in her career.
Jimenez went 3-for-7 on the day with the round-tripper and recorded a game-high four RBI in the nightcap, all with two outs, marking the first time this season that a Colonial notched at least four RBI in a single game. It was the second-career homer for Jimenez and the first time in her career that she collected at least four RBI in a game.
Robert Morris (16-19, 7-3 NEC) took the lead early in Game One when Dubovec drilled a lined double to the fence in right center with two outs that scored junior Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers Houston) from first base.
After four consecutive half-innings without any runs, Bryant tied the game in the third when a Colonial miscue started the frame and was followed by a run-scoring double. The following Bulldog was hit by a pitch, but Robert Morris was able to record three consecutive outs to keep the game tied headed into the fourth.
RMU had a chance to pull back ahead in the next half-inning when Jimenez singled up the middle and Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) reached on an error, putting runners at the corners with one out, but Bryant was able to escape the threat.
The Bulldogs claimed their first advantage in the home half of the fourth when they scored two runs with consecutive two-out doubles.
Robert Morris put its leadoff hitter on in both the fifth and sixth innings, but could not plate any runners, whereas Bryant added single insurance tallies in both frames and would hold on for its 12th consecutive win.
Jimenez helped the Colonials bounce back with a fury in Game Two as she drilled a three-run shot to straightaway centerfield with two outs in the first inning, scoring junior Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) and redshirt junior Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del / St. Mark's).
Robert Morris added to its lead in the second when freshman Chelsea Evans (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Riverside) doubled to the fence in left center to start the inning after a seven-pitch at bat. She slid safely into home two outs later when Calderone singled up the middle.
Badolato ended the bottom half with a three-pitch strikeout to strand a pair of Bulldog runners in the second and proceeded to strike out the side in order in the third to keep the margin at four.
Freshman shortstop Cassie Show (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) led off the fourth with a walk and advanced to second when Patton, the national leader in sacrifice hits per game, put down a sacrifice. After a second out, Timko reached on an error, putting runners at the corners. Dubovec and Jimenez both followed with run-scoring singles to push the Colonial lead to six.
RMU closed the bottom half when Evans gunned down to second and Show chased down and slapped a tag on a retreating runner before another Bulldog could make it from third to home, keeping the shutout intact.
Badolato struck out two more in a 1-2-3 fifth before Dubovec launched a mammoth shot to left center with one away in the sixth, pushing the RMU edge to seven.
Badolato was cruising and aptly shut the door on her team-leading third shutout of the season with a strikeout to close the seventh.
Every RMU hitter in Game Two reached base and four Colonials registered multi-hit performances. Along with Dubovec and Jimenez, both Calderone and Evans went 2-for-4 with a run scored while Calderone added a RBI. Show also reached twice via base on balls out of the ninth spot and scored a run.
Robert Morris will try to carry over its momentum from Game Two as it is right back in action Sunday at Noon as it takes on Central Connecticut State in another league double-dip.