Box Score 1

Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University softball team dropped its Northeast Conference (NEC) opener to Saint Francis, 5-0, late Sunday afternoon at a mostly sunny, but breezy, North Athletic Complex.
 
The teams had been scheduled to play a doubleheader Sunday, but that was not feasible once the first game started late to field conditions earlier in the afternoon. As a result, the Red Flash and Colonials will play their second game Monday at 4:00 p.m.
 
The setback snapped RMU's 12-game winning streak against Saint Francis.
 
Junior Samantha Santillo (Ellwood City, Pa. / Lincoln) posted a notable feat in defeat as she threw out three Saint Francis runners attempting to steal. It marks the first time in over a decade that a Colonial catcher has caught at least three runners stealing in the same game. The backstop also added a double to the Colonial cause.
 
Sophomore Kristen Gabelt (Ligonier, Pa. / Ligonier Valley) was 2-for-2 on the day with a sacrifice. In doing so, she tallied her third multi-hit game of the season and the ninth of her career.
 
Saint Francis jumped on top right away in the top of the first. With two down, a hit batter and a bloop single gave the Red Flash life. They took advantage with consecutive singles to center to score a pair of runs, the second of which was unearned due to a Colonial miscue.
 
Senior Chelsea Evans (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Riverside) sent a double down the left field line with one down in the home half. Sophomore Ashley Gerhart (Imperial, Pa.  / West Allegheny) followed with a walk before junior Tess Apke (Mt. Lebanon, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, a strikeout and a groundout would not bring home any runners.
 
After Saint Francis went in order in the second, senior Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area) singled to center to start the bottom half before Gabelt bunted her to second. An error would give RMU runners on the corners, but a caught stealing followed by a line drive right at the second baseman closed the frame.
 
Apke singled to center with two down in the third and was the only runner for either side to reach in the inning.
 
Santillo caught a runner stealing to help keep the Red Flash off the board in the fourth before drilling a double to right center to start the home half. A single by Gabelt put runners on the corners with one down, but the Colonials were unable to plate a run.
 
Saint Francis extended its advantage in the fifth by scoring a trio of runs. Three consecutive singles plated the first one before a fielder's choice brought home a second and a RMU error allowed the third to score.
 
Neither side could do much until the bottom of the seventh when Gabelt opened the frame by knocking an opposite-field single to right. However, each of the next three Colonials grounded into outs to close the contest.
 
The last time the Colonials dropped their conference opener came in 2011. In that year, however, RMU rebounded to win 15 of its final 18 league games to claim first place in the standings.
 
Senior Cassie Show (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) moved into sole possession of fourth place in career games played at Robert Morris Sunday as she has now competed in 184 in her four years.
 
RMU and Saint Francis will conclude their series late Monday afternoon.