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Charlotte, N.C. – The Robert Morris University softball team twice scored the go-ahead run in its final at bat and held on to win each contest on the opening day of play Saturday at the Green & White Tournament at a partly cloudy DL Phillips Complex.
 
RMU used eight innings to take down Cleveland State, 3-1, in its opener before defeating the host 49ers in its second game, 3-2.
 
Both Colonial starting pitchers put forth strong efforts in the circle Saturday.
 
Junior Nicole Sleith (Smithton, Pa. / Yough) went all eight frames in the opener and allowed just four hits, one walk and a lone run. She earned her fourth win of the season and 46th of her career, which moved her into sole possession of fifth place in the RMU annals. Sleith has now given up just four earned runs in her first six starts this season, all of which have been complete games.
 
Senior Geena Badolato (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) earned a complete-game win in the Colonials' second game by allowing just five hits, one walk and two runs on the afternoon.
 
Sophomore Ashley Gerhart (Imperial, Pa.  / West Allegheny) reached base safely in five of her eight plate appearances on the day to lead the Colonial offense. Gerhart was 3-for-6 on the day with two walks, a double, two RBI and a stolen base. She tallied her second multi-hit game of the year, and 15th of her career, in the opener against the Vikings.
 
Freshman Jordan Gurganus (Chesapeake, Va. / Hickory) also helped the RMU cause by posting a pair of hits, a run scored and the game-winning RBI in the contest against the 49ers. She tallied her third multi-hit game of the season against Charlotte.
 
Just 13 days after RMU took on Cleveland State at the Vikings' tournament, the two squads were back at it again Saturday.
 
Gerhart took a one-out walk in the top of the first inning, but RMU was unable to strike for an early lead.
 
After consecutive half-innings that went in order, a hit batter put a runner on for Cleveland State. However, junior Samantha Santillo (Ellwood City, Pa. / Lincoln) would gun down a Viking player attempting a steal, after a fielder's choice had occurred, to end the inning.
 
RMU went down in order in the third before consecutive two-out singles gave Cleveland State a little life in the bottom half. However, Sleith would escape by getting a lineout to end the threat.
 
Gerhart worked an eight-pitch walk with one down in the fourth inning, but RMU could not bring her around.
 
The Vikings tallied a one-out single in the bottom half, but Sleith would retire each of the next two batters to continue the scoreless duel.
 
An error and a sacrifice by senior Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) gave RMU a runner in scoring position with one down in the fifth, but consecutive groundouts left the runner stranded. Sleith then retired the Vikings in order in the home half.
 
Gurganus reached to lead off the sixth inning and was promptly moved to second on a sacrifice by junior Tess Apke (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon). Gerhart then sent a hard ground ball right back up through the middle and into center for a single. Gurganus raced home and scored the first run of the game as the throw was slightly off line.
 
Sleith retired Cleveland State in order in the sixth on a trio of groundouts.
 
Santillo nailed a 1-1 pitch into the left center gap for a leadoff, standup double in the seventh, but the Colonials were unable to bring her all the way around.
 
Cleveland State used a leadoff home run to right center to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Sleith would regroup, however, and keep her team in the game by getting a fly out, a groundout and a strikeout to send the game to extras.
 
With the international tiebreaker in effect, RMU put down a bunt to start the frame. An errant throw from the Vikings would sail beyond the first base bag, allowing the Colonials to take the lead. One out later, Gerhart laced an opposite-field double to the fence in left to give the Colonials a key insurance run.
 
With the lead once again, Sleith did not mess around in the bottom of the eighth as she got a groundout and consecutive popups on the infield to close out the game.
 
Gerhart notched her first multi-RBI game of the season against the Vikings and the fifth of her career.
 
The Colonials' second contest of the day followed a relatively similar script as the first.
 
Badolato worked around a one-out single with Charlotte batting in the top of the first by getting a double play to bring RMU to the plate.
 
Apke took a walk to start the bottom half and moved to second when Gurganus drove an 0-2 pitch sharply through the left side of the infield. After a fielder's choice left runners on the corners, Gerhart took off for second base. The throw down toward second was not handled properly by the hosts, which allowed Apke to race home with the first run.
 
Charlotte got a two-out infield single in the second, but Badolato got her third groundout of the inning to close the frame.
 
RMU would tack on another run in the second inning as Siar started the frame by knocking a single to center. With two down, senior Chelsea Evans (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Riverside) worked a seven-pitch walk to keep the line moving. Apke followed with a single to center to bring home Siar with the Colonials' second run.
 
After Badolato set down the 49ers in order in the third, Santillo would single with two down in the bottom half but would move no further.
 
A walk, a hit batter and a wild pitch gave the hosts a pair of runners in scoring position with just one out in the fourth, but Badolato dug deep as she got a big strikeout and then handled a groundout herself to strand both runners.
 
An error, a single by Badolato and a sacrifice by Evans then gave the Colonials runners on second and third. After a strikeout for the second out, Gurganus nailed a sharp liner up the middle, but the pitcher made a nice stab of it in the air to retire the side.
 
Charlotte produced a two-out double in the fifth, but Badolato induced a groundout to short to close the inning.
 
Gerhart lined a sharp single to right to start the fifth and soon stole second base, but each of the next three hitters was retired.
 
A hit batter in the sixth brought the tying run to the plate, and Charlotte took advantage by nailing a two-run homer just over the fence right down the left field line to tie the game.
 
With two outs and the bases empty in the home half, Evans lined a sharp single to left to start a RMU rally. Apke then worked a seven pitch walk to extend the frame. Gurganus took advantage as she dumped a single into right center to bring home Evans with the go-ahead run.
 
Badolato closed out the game without any issues as she retired the 49ers in order with a fly out, a popup and a groundout in the seventh.
 
The Colonials will be right back in action Sunday as they conclude play in the event with games against St. Bonaventure and another matchup against Charlotte.