Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University softball team dropped a 5-1 non-conference decision to Canisius Wednesday afternoon on a partly cloudy and pleasant day at the North Athletic Complex.
Despite trailing in the hits column by the slimmest of margins, 7-6, RMU was unable to stay with the Golden Griffins, who have won 11 of their last 13, on the scoreboard.
Junior
Kristen Gabelt remained hot for the Colonials as she was 1-for-2 with a homer and walk. She now has four long balls in the last five games and extended her streak of reaching base safely to 15 consecutive games, the longest by a Colonial since her classmate
Ashley Gerhart had a 16-game stretch in 2013.
Senior
Tess Apke went 1-for-3 Wednesday. In doing so, she moved into a tie for eighth place on the Colonials' all-time hits list (166).
A leadoff single, a sacrifice and a fielder's choice moved a Canisius runner to third with two outs in the top of the first inning. The Golden Griffins would strike first with a two-out infield single. Junior
Haileigh Stocks limited the damage by getting a foul out to close the frame.
Gabelt answered the tally in the bottom half by homering on the seventh pitch of her at bat to left field. Apke then knocked a single to left before Gerhart lined an opposite-field single. Freshman
Olivia Lorusso then took a walk to load the bases, but a groundout left the sacks full.
Stocks worked around a leadoff single in the second by striking out two of the next three batters.
RMU went in order in the home half on a trio of groundouts.
After a one-out single by Canisius in the third, Stocks got a swinging strikeout, and sophomore
Jordan Gurganus then gunned down to second to catch a runner attempting to steal.
Sophomore
Stacey Capp shot a liner to right center to start the bottom half, but the Golden Griffins' center fielder made a diving catch to rob her of extra bases. Gabelt then walked to put a runner on, but she would not advance any further.
Canisius took the lead in the fourth by scoring two runs without the benefit of a hit. The Golden Griffins used a hit batter, a sacrifice, a pair of walks, a steal and two wild pitches to pull ahead.
Senior
Alexis Schwartzmiller hit a fly ball to deep left that may have left the yard in the home half, but the Canisius left fielder was able to make the catch at the fence to retire the side in order.
The Golden Griffins tacked on an unearned run in the fifth after a miscue and a pair of hits.
Gurganus singled to center with one away in the fifth and would advance into scoring position, but a groundout ended the chance.
Canisius scored one more tally in the sixth as it took advantage of some free passes to bring home its final run.
After RMU went in order in the bottom half, Canisius left a runner at third in the seventh.
Robert Morris tried to mount a rally in its final at bat as Stocks led off with an opposite-field single. One out later, freshman
Kecia Sharp delivered a pinch-hit single to put two on base, but a fly out and a groundout kept RMU from bringing the tying run to the plate.
Gabelt's blast was her sixth of the season and the 10th of her career.
Stocks allowed four earned runs while tossing all seven frames for the Colonials.
As of now, the Colonials are next slated for action this Friday, April 3, with a doubleheader at Saint Francis.
