New Britain, Conn. - Junior Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Latrobe Area) spun a two-hit shutout and freshman shortstop Cassie Show (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) nailed her first-career home run in leading the Robert Morris University softball team to a 5-0 Game One victory at Central Connecticut State in Northeast Conference (NEC) action on a cool and cloudy Sunday afternoon.
Even though the Colonials outhit CCSU in Game Two, the Blue Devils responded by taking the nightcap, 4-2, by scoring the game-winning runs in the bottom of the sixth to break a 1-1 deadlock.
Bryson allowed just two singles and tied her season high with 11 strikeouts in the opener as she recorded 11 of the first 14 outs via a 'K'. It was the fifth occasion this season in which she notched double-figure strikeouts in a game.
Senior Kayla Crooks (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) was the game's only player with multiple hits as she went 2-for-3 with a double, a RBI and a run, including putting down a gorgeous squeeze bunt.
After a scoreless first inning, RMU took control in the second when it struck for four runs. Freshman Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) walked to start the frame, and junior Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers Houston) followed with a high drive to deep center that put runners on second and third. After a forceout at the plate, freshman Chelsea Evans (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Riverside) stole second to again put two runners in scoring position with one out.
Crooks then put down a near-perfect squeeze, scoring Timko, a bunt that actually was placed well enough for a single. Evans came home to score the second run when the catcher made an errant throw trying to catch Crooks stealing. Junior Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) then ripped a ball into right center, plating Crooks easily, and slid safely into second with a double. Redshirt junior Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del / St. Mark's) then reached on a miscue, putting runners on the corners with two away. Calderone went to swipe second and wisely proceeded to get in a rundown, allowing Patton to score through the back door without a play.
With a four-run cushion, Bryson continued to breeze through the Blue Devil batters with ease as she retired the side in order in the third, fifth and sixth innings. In the top half of the sixth, Show blasted a homer to straightaway center to give Robert Morris an additional insurance tally.
Bryson finished off CCSU by getting a popup to Show with two runners on base in the seventh.
Robert Morris took an early edge in Game Two when it scored a single tally in the first. Calderone singled up the middle with one out before sophomore Maritza Jimenez (Vineland, N.J. / Vineland) doubled down the right field line with two away, sending Calderone to third. Siar drove in the junior by legging out an infield single to put RMU on top.
CCSU came back to tie the game with an unearned run in the second as a run came home on a Colonial miscue.
Senior Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) singled in the third and Timko reached on a bunt single in the fourth, but RMU could not plate either runner.
The Blue Devils put a runner on second with one out in both the fourth and fifth, but freshman Geena Badolato (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) worked her way out of the jam on each occasion.
CCSU finally took its first lead of the day in the bottom of the sixth when two doubles, a walk and an error gave the Blue Devils a trio of runs.
Timko launched her third home run of the season with one out in the seventh in an attempt to start an RMU comeback, but the Blue Devils retired each of the next two hitters to earn a split of the double-dip.
Robert Morris will close its six-game road trip this Tuesday, April 12, as it plays a mid-week non-conference doubleheader against Akron. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
