University Park, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University softball team dropped a non-conference doubleheader to Big Ten foe Penn State Wednesday evening at a chilly Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
RMU was in the opening contest till the end, falling 2-0, before Penn State claimed a 9-1 decision in six innings in the nightcap.
Senior
Nicole Sleith was strong in a losing effort in the circle for RMU. She went the distance in the opener without allowing an earned run while striking out 11 against zero walks. It was her fourth straight appearance in which she did not allow an earned run in a complete-game effort. The outing was her ninth double-figure strikeout performance of the season and the 23rd of her career.
Junior
Kristen Gabelt led the Colonials offensively as she went 3-for-6 with a double. She registered her seventh multi-hit game of the season, and 18th of her career, in the nightcap. The two-bagger tied her for the team lead with six and was the 13th of her career.
In the opening game, sophomore
Stacey Capp singled to center with one out in the first and would advance to second with two outs, but she would be left there.
Penn State got the only runs it would need in the bottom half as it used a trio of hits and a Colonial miscue to tally a pair of unearned runs with two outs.
Each team would get one two-out baserunner in the second as senior
Samantha Santillo walked to give the Colonials their runner in the frame.
After RMU went in order in the third, the Lions had two runners reach with two outs in the home half, but Sleith got a swinging strikeout to strand a pair.
Both teams had a baserunner reach with two outs in the fourth without the aid of a hit or walk, but neither side would build on its chance.
Each of the next three half-innings was of the 1-2-3 variety. Penn State had a runner reach with two outs in the sixth via a bunt, but Sleith struck out the next batter to close the frame.
Gabelt dumped a single into left to bring the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but RMU would not be able to mount a last-chance rally.
Penn State would use an early, big inning to take control of the second game.
RMU had the first scoring chance of the contest, though, as Capp was hit by a pitch with one out, and freshman
Olivia Lorusso laced a single to center with two down. A long fly ball followed, but it would settle into the glove of an outfielder in deep center.
Each of the next two half-innings went in order.
Penn State used five hits and a trio of walks to plate four runs in the bottom of the second.
Capp singled to right center to reach for the second straight plate appearance in the third inning, but she would not circle the bases.
After the Lions were retired in order in the third, Gabelt and junior
Haileigh Stocks notched back-to-back singles with two away in the fourth, but a groundout ended the threat.
A walk, a base hit and a two-out homer added to Penn State's lead in the fourth.
Senior
Alexis Schwartzmiller led off the fifth with a single and was on second base with one out when sophomore
Jordan Gurganus delivered a RBI single. The next two Colonial batters would fly out and ground out, respectively.
Penn State tacked on a leadoff long ball in the fifth.
Gabelt ripped an opposite-field double with one away in the sixth. An error by the Nittany Lions followed to put runners on second and third with one away, but Penn State got consecutive groundouts to escape the threat.
The Lions would score an unearned run with two outs in the home half to close the proceedings.
By pitching in the opener, Sleith moved into sole possession of the top spot in career appearances in a Colonial uniform with 128.
Robert Morris is scheduled to open both home and Northeast Conference play this Saturday, March 28, when it hosts Sacred Heart in a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m.
