Harrisonburg, Va. – The
Robert Morris University softball team ended play in the Macado's Invitational Sunday with setbacks to St. Joseph's and nationally ranked James Madison at an unseasonably warm, but breezy, Veterans Memorial Park.
The Hawks topped RMU, 6-2, before No. 10/12 JMU defeated the Colonials, 8-0 in six innings.
Junior
Jordan Gurganus had a strong offensive day to finish an impressive weekend as she was named to the All-Tournament Team as a result. She went a combined 4-for-7 Sunday, collecting a pair of multi-hit games in the process. Gurganus posted a multi-hit effort every game this weekend and now has a team-leading eight this season and 40 in her career.
Sophomore
Olivia Lorusso provided a highlight against the Hawks by blasting her first home run of the season, the fifth of her career.
Freshman
Kaitlin Ellzy tossed a complete game against St. Joseph's and allowed a trio of earned runs. The rookie notched her third complete game of the young season in the process.
Saint Joseph's jumped on top of RMU early, and although the game remained close for awhile, the Colonials could not grab ahold of the contest.
Gurganus began the game with a single and would move to second base on a groundout, but she would be left there.
The Hawks pushed ahead in the home half with a single tally. A leadoff single up the middle, a wild pitch and a two-out double put St. Joseph's ahead.
Senior
Lauren Hackett ripped a sharp single to left with one away in the second, but she was the Colonials' lone baserunner of the inning.
A leadoff solo home run to left center doubled the Hawks' lead in the second inning.
Gurganus knocked a 1-2 pitch through the pitcher's circle to reach with one out in the third. A Hawks' error followed to put two on base, but a strikeout and a fly out ended the chance.
RMU stranded a pair of Hawks in the third as senior center fielder
Ashley Gerhart made a great sliding catch while racing in to save at least one run.
With two outs in the fourth, Lorusso crushed the first pitch she saw deep to left center as the ball quickly got out of the park.
An infield single would be the lone baserunner for Saint Joseph's in the home half.
After RMU went in order for the only time in the game in the fifth, the Hawks pulled away in the bottom half. Saint Joseph's loaded the bases with no outs with two singles and a Colonial miscue. Robert Morris then forced two runners at the plate on two ground balls to the infield and appeared close to escaping the threat. However, a wild pitch, an error and a single followed to score three unearned runs for the Hawks.
Senior
Kristen Gabelt worked an eight-pitch walk to begin the sixth. Senior
Haileigh Stocks followed by ripping a liner to the left side, but the shortstop made a diving stab to rob her of a hit. A two-out error put two runners on, but the inning ended with a controversial called strike three.
A well-placed double, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly added the final tally for Saint Joseph's in the sixth.
Redshirt freshman
Kristen Pray began the seventh with a bunt single, and one out later, Gurganus singled to put a pair on base. With two outs, Gabelt roped a RBI single to left to keep the Colonials alive, but a swinging strikeout ended the contest.
The Colonials were stymied by 2015 All-American Megan Good in their contest against the host Dukes.
Gurganus began the game with a single for the second time Sunday, and she moved to second on a groundout, but she would be left there.
RMU worked around a pair of James Madison baserunners in the bottom half before being retired in order in the second.
A walk and three hits by the Dukes plated a trio of runs for the hosts in the home half of the second.
Gurganus again used her speed to put pressure on JMU in the third as she reached on a soft chopper to the left side with two outs, but a groundout followed.
An infield single by JMU to lead off the bottom half was quickly erased when Lorusso snared a liner and fired to first to double off the runner. After a hit batter, Hackett fired down to second base to catch the runner trying to steal.
After RMU went in order in the fourth, James Madison pulled away in the bottom half with four unearned runs courtesy of four hits and a pair of Colonial miscues.
The first two Colonials were retired in the fifth though both worked the count full, including a nine-pitch at bat by Lorusso. Pray was then hit by a pitch before a groundout ended the frame.
JMU got two runners on in the fifth on a hit batter and an infield hit. The Dukes then tried to score the lead runner on a ground ball to the right side of the infield, but Gurganus gathered herself and fired to the plate where Hackett applied the tag for the third out.
Gurganus and junior
Stacey Capp began the sixth inning with consecutive singles, but two foul outs and fly ball to center ended the opportunity.
James Madison ended the game with a single run in the sixth off three hits and a walk.
Gurganus hit .600 (9-for-15) on the weekend to be named to the All-Tournament Team.
RMU will resume action next weekend when it participates in the District Invite in the nation's capital Friday, March 4, through Sunday, March 6.
