Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University softball team swept a pair of games from Quinnipiac in contrasting styles, 1-0 and 8-6, to clinch a postseason appearance in Northeast Conference (NEC) action on a sunny and mild day at the North Athletic Complex.
With its win in the opening game, RMU clinched a spot in the NEC Tournament for the sixth consecutive season, extending the league's longest active streak. The Colonials' play Saturday also helped them reset a new school record for combined wins in back-to-back seasons as they now have 63 in the past two campaigns.
Sophomore Nicole Sleith (Smithton, Pa. / Yough) was one of the top performers for the Colonials on the day, both in the circle and at the plate.
Sleith twirled a three-hit shutout in the opening game to simultaneously clinch a playoff berth for RMU and eliminate Quinnipiac from postseason contention. It was her sixth shutout of the season and the 11th of her career and marked her fifth shutout this season in which she has allowed three or fewer hits. She also racked up 10 strikeouts in the opener without walking a batter, marking her fifth double-digit strikeout effort of the season and the ninth of her career. Sleith, who has now allowed seven earned runs in her past 10 starts, also picked up the save in the nightcap with two innings of shutout relief to become the first Colonial in history to post double figure saves in a career.
Sleith also went 2-for-4 on the day with her first-career double, first-ever RBI, a walk, a sacrifice and a run scored. She picked up the first multi-hit game of her career in the nightcap.
Sophomore Samantha Santillo (Ellwood City, Pa. / Lincoln), who caught Sleith's shutout, went 3-for-6 on the day with a pair of doubles as well as two RBI. She doubled in each game and also notched the 18th multi-hit game of her career in the nightcap.
Sophomore Tess Apke (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) matched Santillo's 3-for-6 line and contributed a double along with three runs scored on the day, including the only run of the opening game. She tallied her 10th multi-hit game of the season in the nightcap, which was the 19th such effort of her career.
After each side went in order in the first inning of the opener, Sleith got a groundout to leave a runner aboard for the Bobcats in the second.
RMU also went down in order in the second, and Sleith again got an inning-ending groundout to leave a runner on base in the third.
Sleith then walked to open the bottom of the third, and after a fielder's choice, Santillo drilled a 1-1 pitch into the left center gap to score Apke all the way from first.
Sleith retired the Bobcats 1-2-3 in the fourth on a lineout, a groundout and a strikeout.
Freshman Haileigh Stocks (Jamison, Pa. / Central Bucks South) walked to start the fourth. A pair of Colonials would make solid contact later in the inning, but both batted balls resulted in lineouts.
Quinnipiac got a two-out single in the fifth, but Sleith handled a comebacker to prevent the runner from reaching scoring position.
Apke singled with one out in the bottom half but would advance no further.
The Bobcats had their best chance to tie it in the sixth as they started the inning with a leadoff infield single. A pair of groundouts followed, the latter of which advanced a Bobcat into scoring position, but Sleith got a swinging strikeout to end the threat.
With one out in the home half, Stocks nailed a 2-2 offering, one-hopping the fence in left center, for a double. One out later, a Bobcat miscue put runners on the corners with two down, but a groundout ended the inning.
Sleith wasted no time in helping RMU clinch its spot as she set down the Bobcats with a strikeout, a groundout and then a game-ending strikeout in the seventh. She threw 54 of her 75 pitches for strikes in her shutout effort.
The opener marked the fifth consecutive contest the Colonials had played that was decided by one run.
Robert Morris would rally from behind in the nightcap only to see the Bobcats make a late charge that the Colonials had to hold off.
Quinnipiac used a single, a steal and a groundout to get a runner to third base with two outs in the top of the first, but junior Geena Badolato (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) got a swinging strikeout to strand the runner.
Freshman Ashley Gerhart (Imperial, Pa. / West Allegheny) worked a full count walk to start the home half. After an error by the Bobcats on a bunt attempt, RMU had runners at the corners. Quinnipiac was then able to cut down a run at the plate by catching a Colonial trying to steal home. With two down, junior Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) worked a full count walk to put two aboard, but a strikeout ended the inning.
Quinnipiac used two singles, two walks and a wild pitch to strike first in the second inning and put a trio of runs on the board.
Robert Morris refused to be rattled, though, and came right back in the home half to not only tie the game but take the lead. Apke started things off by ripping a double down the line in left. After an error put two runners aboard, freshman Kristen Gabelt (Ligonier, Pa. / Ligonier Valley) knocked an opposite-field single into right to score Apke. Junior shortstop Cassie Show (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) followed with a walk to load the bases, and Gerhart then worked a full count walk to bring in a run. After the lead runner was forced out at the plate, Stocks tied the game with a RBI groundout. Siar then came through with a two-out single down the right field line that scored both Gerhart and freshman Lauren Hackett (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area).
Quinnipiac put a pair of runners on with two outs in the third, but Badolato got a big swinging strikeout on a full count to end the inning.
Apke started another rally in the third by placing a single down the right field line. After an error and a groundout, pinch-hitter Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) walked to load the bases with one out. Gerhart followed by flying out to medium left center to plate Apke with a sacrifice fly.
Badolato sent Quinnipiac down in order in the fourth on a pair of flyouts and a strikeout.
RMU continued to add on in the fourth as Stocks began the frame by drilling a double to the fence in right center. Siar followed with a single into center and advanced to second on the throw home, but a run was cut down at the plate on the play. Santillo then laced a double into right center to score Siar. After the inning's second out, Sleith knocked a double into left center, her first hit of the season, to score pinch-runner Jessica Tanigawa (Marysville, Wash. / Marysville-Pitchuck).
Badolato again retired the Bobcats in order in the fifth on a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.
Gerhart singled to right center with one out in the fifth and stole second one out later, but a strikeout ended the inning.
Quinnipiac got back into the game in the sixth as it used four singles, a walk and a Colonial miscue to plate three runs. Sleith left the tying runs on base, though, by getting a strikeout and a groundout to stop the Bobcat rally.
Santillo lined a single into left with one out in the sixth and Sleith roped a single into center with two down, but a groundout ended the inning.
Quinnipiac got a leadoff single in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but Sleith got a strikeout, a groundout and then another game-ending strikeout to complete the sweep.
Gerhart reached base safely three times in the nightcap, and was only retired on her sacrifice fly, and also posted the fourth multi-RBI game of her rookie season.
Siar registered her team-leading sixth multi-RBI game of the season, which was the 19th of her career, in the nightcap and also posted the 23rd multi-hit game of her career.
Sleith moved into a tie for fourth in career shutouts (11) at RMU and also moved into seventh in single-season strikeouts (198).
Stocks' ninth double of the season moved her into the single-season top 10 in that category.
RMU improved to 22-10 all-time against Quinnipiac as the programs were meeting for the final time as league foes.
The Colonials will remain at home for their final two games of the regular season as they play a NEC doubleheader against Sacred Heart. RMU will meet the Pioneers Sunday at Noon in games with NEC Tournament seeding at stake.
