Washington, D.C. - The Robert Morris University softball team had its share of chances Sunday against Buffalo as it had runners in scoring position in five different innings, but the Colonials were unable to get a timely hit and suffered a 3-0 setback to complete their play at the Colonial Classic, hosted by George Washington.
RMU was initially scheduled to play a second game Sunday against Army, but it had been previously canceled due to a lack of field availability with the recent precipitation in the nation's capital.
Sophomore Geena Badolato (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) built on her strong start from Saturday as she threw four innings of brilliant relief against the Bulls. She allowed just two singles and no walks while blanking Buffalo over the quartet of frames in which she was in the circle. Badolato has not allowed an earned run in her last 11 innings and has conceded just two over her last 18.2 of work.
Seniors Katrina Gallagher (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon McMillan) and Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers Houston) both reached base twice as each went 1-for-3 with a walk.
Gallagher has now reached base safely via a hit or walk in each of her last seven games and has also reached safely in all eight games in which she has started this season.
Gallagher worked a full-count, one-out walk in the top half of the first before a Bulls' error put two runners aboard for RMU. Sophomore Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) followed with another full-count walk to load the bases with one out, but a foulout and a flyball to right ended the inning.
After Buffalo was sent down in order in the first, RMU again looked for an early lead in the second. Sophomore Cassie Show (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) earned a full-count walk with two outs and moved the second when Timko beat out an infield hit, but a strikeout silenced the threat.
Buffalo was given two walks in the home half, but it did not advance either runner.
Senior Sarah Capp (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour) opened the third with a walk, and redshirt senior Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del. / St. Mark's) sent a single up the middle two outs later, but the Colonials could not keep the rally going.
Buffalo scored the game's only runs when the first two batters of the third reached in advance of a home run down the right field line.
The only runner that reached in the next three half-innings was promptly erased when freshman Samantha Santillo (Ellwood City, Pa. / Lincoln) gunned down to Show to catch the Bulls stealing.
Junior Maritza Jimenez (Vineland, N.J. / Vineland) worked an eight-pitch walk to open the sixth, and after a fielders' choice, a wild pitch allowed Calderone to scamper into scoring position. However, she was left stranded for the second time of the game when a strikeout ended the frame.
Badolato sent the Bulls down in order in the bottom half on just eight pitches as she collected a trio of groundouts.
Robert Morris had its best chance of the game in the final inning as it loaded the bases with nobody out. Junior Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) came through with a pinch-hit single to left to leadoff the frame. Timko followed with a walk and Gallagher then guided a single through the middle to put three runners aboard. However, the Bulls clamped down as they got a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to keep the Colonials off the board and close out the game.
The Colonials will next be in action in a unique locale as they travel to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament Friday, March 9, through Sunday, March 11. RMU will meet nationally-ranked and undefeated Hawaii Friday night after opening the tournament with Radford, a squad which just defeated nationally-ranked Florida State, earlier in the day.
