Las Vegas, Nev. – The
Robert Morris University softball team fell behind early in each of its games Saturday and could not recover as the Colonials lost twice in the
DeMarini Desert Classic at a sun-splashed and warm Eller Media Stadium.
RMU fell to BYU, 7-2, and dropped its second game of the day to UNLV, 8-3.
The Colonials did manage to outhit BYU, a team that has qualified for 11 straight NCAA Tournaments, while Robert Morris and the host Rebels each scored three earned runs later in the afternoon.
Redshirt freshman
Kristen Pray had the best day of her young collegiate career Saturday as she went 4-for-8. Pray notched a pair of multi-hit games, her first two in a Colonial uniform.
Junior
Jordan Gurganus went 3-for-8 on the day while scoring a run. She contributed her fourth multi-hit effort of the season and the 36th of her career against the Cougars.
Senior
Kristen Gabelt had a pair of hits Saturday, including a two-run homer against the Rebels. The long ball was her first of the season and the 14th of her career.
A leadoff walk, a bunt single and a two-out, two-run double put BYU on top right away in the top of the first. A pair of steals would tack on another run for the Cougars in the frame.
Gurganus singled to open the bottom half, but the next three Colonials were each retired after working the count full.
A pair of walks for BYU in the second did no damage to the Colonials. Each team went in order in its next time at the plate.
Gurganus and Pray singled consecutively with two outs in the third, but a strikeout followed to close the frame.
BYU used two hits, a sacrifice, a walk, a steal and a wild pitch to score a pair of runs in the fourth.
The only baserunner in the next two innings came in the fifth when BYU had a one-out single, but nothing came of it.
Robert Morris got on the board in the sixth when Gurganus, Pray, senior
Ashley Gerhart and Gabelt all singled to start the inning, scoring a run. A fielder's choice followed in which an out was recorded at the plate. RMU then appeared like it might have another RBI single, but the Cougar shortstop made a diving stop of a hard-hit grounder and forced a runner at second while Gerhart scored. A line drive down the third base line was then knocked down by the BYU third baseman, which allowed her to register the final out of the inning.
BYU would get those runs right back when a Colonial miscue was followed by a homer to left center.
Freshman
Taylor Bartlow singled to right to start the seventh, but the next three Colonials were retired, closing the contest.
Gurganus' three-hit effort against BYU was her second of the season and the seventh of her career.
Unfortunately for RMU, a similar scene played out in its second game as it fell behind in the first inning and never caught up.
Pray singled to right with one away in the top of the first, but the next two Colonials were retired, including a well-struck liner by Gerhart that found the shortstop's glove.
A two-out error was followed by a home run in the bottom half, putting the Rebels on top. The Colonials got out of the inning when senior
Lauren Hackett threw out a runner trying to steal.
RMU got a runner on in the second courtesy of a UNLV miscue but could not take advantage.
The Rebels broke the game open in the home half as they scored four times thanks to three hits, a hit batter and a Robert Morris error.
After RMU went in order in the third, UNLV had runners on second and third with one out after a hit and an error, but the Colonials got a popup on the infield and a groundout to escape the threat.
Gerhart singled on a full count to start the fourth, and then Gabelt blasted an 0-2 pitch over the fence down the left field line. Hackett followed by roping a double to the fence in left, but she would not advance.
A two-out single in the home half did not turn into a scoring chance for UNLV.
Freshman
Abrielle McCartney worked a walk to start the fifth. One out later, Pray singled to put a pair on base, but consecutive groundouts followed.
The Rebels used two hits and a walk to score twice in the home half and extend their lead.
Junior
Stacey Capp worked a full count walk with one down in the sixth, and sophomore
Olivia Lorusso followed by ripping a single to left. Bartlow then singled to center to score a run although a trail runner was thrown out on the play. That proved significant when McCartney followed by lining an opposite-field single to left, the rookie's first collegiate hit. With two on and two out, a groundout ended the opportunity.
A pair of two-out singles did not lead to any runs for the Rebels in the bottom half.
Gerhart walked with one away in the seventh. One out later, a UNLV error put two on base, but a groundout ended the proceedings.
Gabelt's multi-RBI effort Saturday was her first of the season and the 12th of her career. Hackett's two-bagger was her second of the season and the 14th of her career. Bartlow notched her first collegiate RBI one day after picking up her first hit.
Freshman
Laura Coulter was solid across two relief appearances Saturday as she yielded a lone earned run in 4.2 innings of work without walking a batter.
RMU will close play in the event Sunday with a game against another team from the Silver State. The Colonials will play Nevada at Noon (ET).
