Box Score 1

Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University softball team dropped its home opener to Niagara, 2-0, as part of the inaugural RMU Colonial Classic Friday afternoon at a sunny North Athletic Complex.
 
RMU had been scheduled to play two games against the Purple Eagles, but the second contest had to be cancelled once the first game started late due to the snow that fell earlier in the day.
 
Coming off of a no-hitter last time out, junior Nicole Sleith (Smithton, Pa. / Yough) pitched well for the Colonials but came away with a loss. She allowed six hits and two runs in the setback while striking out 12 without walking or hitting a batter. It marked the fourth time in her last five starts that she reached double-digits in strikeouts. It marked her fifth double-figure strikeout effort of the season and the 14th of her career.
 
Freshman Jordan Gurganus (Chesapeake, Va. / Hickory), who notched a walk-off single last time out, went 2-for-3 for the Colonials. In the process, she notched her team-leading seventh multi-hit game of the season.
 
Sleith handled Niagara in the top of the first by getting a pair of swinging strikeouts and fielding a groundout. The bottom half of the frame appeared promising for the Colonials as Gurganus started it by lining a single to right. She would move to second on an error but could advance no further.
 
Each team went down in order in the second as Sleith struck out three consecutive batters swinging in the frame.
 
Niagara got its first baserunner to start the top of the third, but Sleith would retire each of the next three hitters to keep the game scoreless.
 
Gurganus and senior Chelsea Evans (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Riverside) notched consecutive singles with two outs in the third to try and give RMU the lead, but a groundout ended the chance.
 
Niagara used a double and a single to put runners on the corners to start the fourth. One out later, a squeeze brought home the game's first run. Sleith limited further damage by getting a fly out to center.
 
Sophomore Haileigh Stocks (Jamison, Pa. / Central Bucks South) poked a two-strike single to center with two outs in the fourth. Senior Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) followed by working a seven-pitch walk to put two runners on, but a groundout to short left both stranded.
 
An infield hit by Niagara with two outs in the fifth was the only baserunner for either side in the inning.
 
After Sleith retired Niagara on a trio of groundouts in the sixth, sophomore Ashley Gerhart (Imperial, Pa.  / West Allegheny) battled back from an 0-2 count to work a seven-pitch walk with two outs, but RMU was unable to make use of it.
 
A double, a single and a sacrifice fly gave Niagara an insurance run in the seventh. The Colonials were unable to mount a rally in the bottom half and dropped their home opener for the first time in three years.
 
Sleith moved into a tie for fourth in career complete games (59) at RMU Friday.
 
Senior Cassie Show (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) moved into sole possession of sixth place in career games played (181) at Robert Morris Friday as she passed her current assistant coach Lauren Dickinson.
 
The Colonials will look to get back on track with a pair of games Saturday as part of their home tournament. RMU is scheduled to meet Siena at 11:00 a.m. and Miami (Ohio) at 3:00 p.m. Robert Morris was originally scheduled to play two games Sunday, but those contests were cancelled due to the cold weather in the forecast.