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Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University softball team outhit Miami (Ohio) by a notable margin but fell short on the scoreboard, 2-1, as it closed play in the inaugural RMU Colonial Classic at a mostly cloudy North Athletic Complex late Saturday afternoon.
 
RMU had previously dropped its first contest of the day, 2-1, to Siena.
 
Senior Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) was 2-for-3 against the Redhawks and blasted a homer to right center. It was her third long ball of the season and the 21st of her career, which moved her into a tie for third in the RMU record book. The multi-hit effort was Siar's fourth of the season and the 28th of her career.
 
Junior Tess Apke (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) and freshman Jordan Gurganus (Chesapeake, Va. / Hickory) each tallied a trio of hits on the day. Apke notched her seventh multi-hit game of the season, and 26th of her career, while Gurganus, who added a run and a steal on the day, contributed her team-leading eighth multi-hit outing of the year.
 
Senior Geena Badolato (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) and junior Nicole Sleith (Smithton, Pa. / Yough) both delivered strong efforts in the circle in defeat for the Colonials. Badolato allowed two runs in a complete-game effort while Sleith yielded just two hits and one earned run in seven innings of work.
 
Siena had a great chance to take an early lead in the top of the first as it used an infield hit, a walk and a hit batter to load the bases with one out. Badolato would get a key strikeout for the second out before a groundout to second closed the frame.
 
After the next two half-innings went in order, Apke singled to left center with one out in the second. Sophomore Lauren Hackett (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) would single with two outs and then steal second to put two runners in scoring position, but a groundout ended the threat.
 
Badolato retired the Saints in order in the third. Gurganus singled with one out in the third and stole second, but she would move no further.
 
Siena took the lead in the fourth as a leadoff double was followed by a single and a one-out RBI groundout. Badolato would strand a runner at third by getting a groundout to short.
 
Apke singled to left center with one away in the bottom half, but a double play quickly erased the chance.
 
After both teams went in order in the fifth, Siena added a key insurance run in the sixth as a single, a sacrifice and another single plated a run.
 
RMU mounted a rally in the home half as Gurganus singled on an 0-2 pitch to start the frame. Senior Chelsea Evans (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Riverside) was then hit by a pitch to put two runners aboard. A fielder's choice would then result in the first out of the inning, but an error would also occur on the play that allowed RMU to score its first run. The Colonials would have the tying run in scoring position with two down, but a groundout to third ended the frame.
 
A trio of singles for Siena loaded the bases with two down but a groundout to the right side kept the margin at one. However, the Colonials were unable to produce a baserunner in the bottom of the seventh as a groundout, a fly out and a lineout closed the game.
 
RMU outhit Miami, 7-2, in its second game, but it was not enough for a victory.
 
After each team went in order in the first, Miami scored an unearned run in the second on a leadoff walk, a sacrifice and a Colonial miscue.
 
Neither team mustered a hit in the next two half-innings. Siar lined an opposite-field single to right on a 1-2 pitch to start the bottom of the third. A sacrifice by Sleith put a runner in scoring position, but a pair of groundouts did not advance the runner.
 
Miami added to its lead in the fourth as it used a leadoff single, a sacrifice and a two-out single to right center to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Evans singled to left center to start the fourth, but RMU would be unable to plate a runner in the frame.
 
After Sleith retired the Redhawks in order in the fifth, Siar blasted a 1-0 pitch very high and over the fence in right center to cut the deficit in half. One out later, junior Alexis Schwartzmiller (Carnegie, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) ripped a lined single into left, but a groundout kept Miami in front.
 
Sleith got a pair of groundouts to Siar and then a looking strikeout in the sixth. Sophomore Ashley Gerhart (Imperial, Pa.  / West Allegheny) lined an 0-1 pitch to the opposite field for a leadoff single in the home half. Apke followed by bouncing a ball fair down the third base line to put the go-ahead run on base. A one-out groundout would move both runners into scoring position, but a strikeout left the Colonials trailing.
 
Neither team registered a baserunner in the seventh, which allowed the Redhawks to come away with the win.
 
With 27 non-conference contests in the books, Robert Morris will open Northeast Conference (NEC) play in one week's time. RMU will resume action when it hosts Saint Francis in a doubleheader Saturday, March 29, at 1:00 p.m.