Cleveland, Ohio – The Robert Morris University softball team took a lead into the seventh inning at Cleveland State Thursday afternoon, but the hosts posted a late rally to claim a 4-3 victory in non-conference action at a sunny Viking Field.
With the setback, RMU falls to 9-6 in one-run games in 2013.
Senior Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) had one of the louder hits of the day as she drilled a run-scoring triple that nearly left the yard and also scored a run in the game. It was her first three-bagger of the season and the third of her career.
Freshman Ashley Gerhart (Imperial, Pa. / West Allegheny) continued her impressive freshman campaign by knocking a single, stealing a base and scoring a run.
In fact, Gerhart led off the game with a single and promptly moved to second base when classmate Lauren Hackett (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) put down a successful sacrifice bunt, but neither of the next two Colonials could advance their runner further.
Freshman Haileigh Stocks (Jamison, Pa. / Central Bucks South) started in the circle for the Colonials and worked around a two-out single in the bottom of the first by getting a looking strikeout of the Cleveland State cleanup hitter to end the inning.
After RMU went down in order in the second, the Vikings struck first in the home half as they used a single followed by a two-out double to plate a run. Cleveland State would then use a miscue to get two runners aboard, but Stocks left both in scoring position by getting a groundout to end the threat.
Junior shortstop Cassie Show (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) reached base with one out in the third but would not move past first base.
A strikeout by Stocks and a caught stealing, from Hackett to Show, helped RMU keep Cleveland State off the board in the third.
Sophomore Samantha Santillo (Ellwood City, Pa. / Lincoln) reached base for RMU with two down in the fourth, but a strikeout then ended the inning.
Grafton started a nice double play in the bottom of the fourth as she stabbed a line drive to her left and then rifled the ball to Show covering second to double off a Viking runner and help keep the hosts off the scoreboard.
RMU broke through in the fifth, and it started when sophomore Nicole Sleith (Smithton, Pa. / Yough) opened the inning by working a full count walk. Grafton followed by crushing a pitch deep to right, carrying to the fence on the fly. Sleith came all the way around to score standing up while Grafton was in to third with a triple. Grafton would then proceed to score the go-ahead run on a throwing error by the catcher. With Gerhart on first base later in the frame, she took off for second and swiped the bag. She then continued on to third due to an error by the Vikings and would use her speed to come all the way around to score on the play.
Cleveland State hit a two-out solo homer to straightaway center to cut its deficit in half in the home side of the fifth.
Freshman Kristen Gabelt (Ligonier, Pa. / Ligonier Valley) lined a solid single to right with two down in the sixth, but a lineout to left by Sleith would end the inning.
Stocks worked around a one-out single in the sixth by getting a groundout and a flyout to end the inning.
After RMU went down in order in the seventh, the Vikings would muster up some late inning magic. With two away, Cleveland State used consecutive walks to get the winning run on base before a double to right field would bring home both baserunners and end the contest.
Each of Robert Morris' last four, and five of its past six, games have been decided by one run.
This was RMU's final scheduled non-conference game of the season.
The Colonials will return home for their final four games of the regular season as they play a pair of Northeast Conference doubleheaders against Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart. RMU will first meet the Bobcats Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in games with NEC Tournament repercussions at stake.
