Softball | 12/4/2015 9:12:00 AM
Moon Township, Pa. – Head coach
Craig Coleman, M.D., of the
Robert Morris University softball team announced the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) Friday.
RMU has received commitments from
Briana Bunner (Hunker, Pa. / Southmoreland),
Natalie Higgins (Middletown, Ohio / Madison),
Katie Isenberg (South Park, Pa. / South Park),
Taryn Miller (St. Thomas, Pa. / James Buchanan) and
Madison Riggle (Roseville, Ohio / Maysville) to join the program for the 2016-17 academic year.
Bunner was named a first team all-state outfielder by the Pennsylvania High School Coaches Softball Association after a stellar junior season. She hit .500 for the Scotties in 2015 with a slugging mark north of 1.000 as she contributed 18 doubles, 28 RBI and two walk-off grand slams. Bunner is a two-time all-section honoree, as selected by the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and was also named to the organization's 10-player all-area team last season. Bunner, who owns a.605 on-base percentage along with 52 RBI and 57 runs in her Southmoreland career to date, was named to the
Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Terrific 10 list in 2015. She was also selected all-area by
The Herald-Standard this past season after helping Southmoreland reach the semifinals of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Tournament. Bunner has also helped Team Pennsylvania to strong showings on the travel scene, including a fourth-place finish, out of 136 teams, in the 2014 Amateur Softball Association (ASA) national championships, and a 2015 ASA state title.
"Briana brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to the game," Coleman said. "She is very talented on offense and can play several different positions on defense."
Higgins was tabbed all-state first team by the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association in 2015 after leading the Mohawks to a district championship. She was named the Southwestern Buckeye League (SWBL) Buckeye Division Athlete of the Year this past season after leading the SWBL in hitting (.583), hits (60) triples (10) and RBI (45) while blasting six homers and adding 14 doubles. Higgins was second in the league in hitting in 2014 while posting a .606 OBP, 48 hits and 38 runs as she earned all-state honorable mention accolades and the first of two all-metro first team selections. Higgins earned her first of three All-SWBL honors in 2013 as she hit .490 with 22 extra-base hits in helping Madison to the Buckeye Division title and a 20-win season. Higgins has also competed for the Ohio Hawks and the Ohio Classics on the travel circuit. She has hit above .400 in over 40 games each of the past three years with her travel team, including posting 64 RBI and 54 runs in a fantastic 2013 campaign. Higgins has averaged an extra base hit every 5.6 at bats during her past three years of travel ball.
"Natalie will have an immediate impact on our offense at RMU," Coleman said. "She hits for both power and average. She is a very talented infielder."
Isenberg has been a mainstay for the Eagles since she hit .458 in her freshman season while adding 15 RBI. The local product served as a team captain and the starting catcher this past season for South Park while hitting .556 with a .630 OBP and a 1.130 slugging mark, figures that earned her all-section honors from the Post-Gazette. Isenberg previously competed for both the TFM Rebels and the Pittsburgh Spirit in her travel ball career. She was chosen to represent the United States on a North American Select Team that competed against other nations in the Netherlands. Isenberg and her Rebels teammates participated in seven championship games during the 2013 season while the backstop notched the fastest pop time at a summer showcase. She notched 12 hits in 17 at bats at the Queen of Diamonds North Showcase in 2014 and hit .688 with a .938 SLG% with the Spirit that fall. Isenberg currently plays for Outlaws PA Premier.
"Katie is an outstanding defensive catcher, with great physical skills and total command of the defense," Coleman said. "She is a great overall athlete who is a good hitter that can play other positions as well."
Miller has caused problems for opponents both at the plate and in the circle in her first three years with the Rockets. She claimed first team all-state honors in 2015 while helping James Buchanan to a school record 18 wins as she hit .562 with a .610 OBP, a .958 SLG% and 34 RBI. Miller took home second team all-state honors in 2014 along with the Player of the Year award from the
Chambersburg Public Opinion after batting .538 with a .603 OBP and a .907 slugging mark. Miller is a three-time Mid Penn Conference First Team honoree and has also been named a First Team All-Star by the Public Opinion in each of her three years thus far. Miller's performances in the circle have rivaled those at the plate as she owns a 1.08 ERA in her career along with 34 wins in 40 starts and 364 strikeouts. During the 2014 season, she posted a 0.93 ERA across 121 innings while striking out 153 and allowing one extra-base hit. Miller competes for the Tri-State Thunder on the travel scene.
"Taryn is an exceptional athlete with great speed and strength," Coleman said. "She is a terrific hitter and infielder and, on the side, she's an all-state pitcher."
Riggle earned her second straight all-state honor in 2015 after leading the Panthers to a district title for the second consecutive season. She compiled a 1.63 ERA this past season for Maysville while racking up 181 strikeouts in 144 innings against just 17 walks. She earned her first of back-to-back Muskingum Valley League Player of the Year honors in 2014 after notching a 1.06 ERA, 16 wins, 182 strikeouts and a 0.84 WHIP. Riggle has claimed first team all-league and first team all-eastern district honors three times each and is on pace to break the school's all-time strikeout record in her senior season. Riggle has also performed well for the Ohio Classics on the travel circuit where she has tallied a 1.93 ERA over 363 innings in the past three years while allowing opponents to hit only .202. Her 2015 campaign with the Classics was her finest yet as she posted a 1.42 ERA and a .171 opponents average. Riggle's efforts in the circle have not seemed to hurt her at all at the plate as she has posted an OBP above .400 and a slugging mark north of .700 each of the past three seasons for Maysville. She also owns a .416 career average and a .731 SLG% in 343 at bats over the past three years with the Classics.
"Madison is a very accomplished pitcher," Coleman said. "She throws the ball hard and has consistent movement in all directions. As a bonus, she's also a talented power hitter."
Robert Morris has won the Northeast Conference regular-season title in four of the past five seasons. The Colonials are also the lone team in the league to post an overall record of at least .500 in seven of the past eight years.
RMU has ranked among the top five Division I schools in team grade point average in six of the past seven years.
