University Park, Pa. – A trio of Colonials posted extra-base hits and freshman
Kaitlin Ellzy spun a three-hitter to lead the
Robert Morris University softball team over Penn State, 3-1, in the opening game of a doubleheader Wednesday evening at a pleasant Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
Penn State would hold off a RMU rally attempt in the nightcap to claim an 8-5 victory and split the doubleheader.
The Colonials' win in the day's opening game marked their third in the past two weeks against a Big Ten opponent. It marks the first time in program history that the Colonials have defeated three distinct Big Ten foes in the same season.
Ellzy had garnered the victory in each of the previous two wins over Big Ten foes, and Wednesday continued the trend. The rookie yielded just three hits and a lone run to earn the complete-game victory in the opening contest. Penn State put the tying runs on in the seventh, but Ellzy was not rattled as she comfortably got out of trouble and ended the contest.
Sophomore
Olivia Lorusso performed admirably in multiple phases of the game Wednesday. She reached safely four times on the day as she went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double and a run scored. She also handled 16 chances in the field without an error, including contributing a combined 12 assists on the day.
Senior
Ashley Gerhart had a nice showing at the plate as she finished 3-for-7 with two doubles, a RBI and a run scored. She notched her fifth multi-hit outing of the season in the nightcap, the 42nd of her career.
After RMU went in order to open the day, a Colonial miscue, a walk and a sacrifice put two runners in scoring position. Ellzy would get out of inning unscathed by striking out the next batter and then getting a soft lineout on the infield.
Gerhart shot a double to left on a full count to open the second. Senior
Lauren Hackett then traded places with her teammate by lining a double to right center. Lorusso then dumped a single into right to put runners on the corners. After the first out, redshirt freshman
Kristen Pray picked up her first collegiate RBI with a groundout, scoring Hackett.
A two-out walk by Penn State in the bottom half was no matter as Ellzy retired the other three hitters of the inning.
Junior
Jordan Gurganus singled to begin the third, and classmate
Stacey Capp promptly moved her along with a sacrifice. However, the junior would not advance any further.
A leadoff walk, a hit batter, a steal and a sacrifice fly would give the Nittany Lions their only run of the game in the third.
Each team went down 1-2-3 in the fourth inning.
A Penn State error and a sacrifice by freshman
Abrielle McCartney gave RMU a scoring chance in the fifth, but the next two Colonials were retired.
A one-out double and a walk gave Penn State an opening in the home half to tie or take the lead. However, Ellzy then induced a ground ball that Lorusso fielded, spun around to tag third base and then fired across the diamond to complete an inning-ending double play.
Senior
Kristen Gabelt launched the first pitch of the sixth inning deep down the left field line, and it cleared the fence to net a big insurance run for the guests.
Ellzy pitched a 1-2-3 bottom half as Lorusso handled three consecutive grounders without issue.
After RMU went in order in the seventh, a leadoff infield single and a two-out grounder that squeaked through the infield kept hope alive for Penn State. However, Ellzy got the next batter to ground out to Lorusso to finish off the win.
Gabelt's long ball was her second of the season and the 15th of her career. Hackett's two-bagger was her fourth of 2016 and the 16th of her career.
Penn State would take a big lead in the nightcap, and RMU was unable to fight all the way back to tie it.
A Nittany Lion error gave RMU its lone baserunner of the first inning. Penn State loaded the bases with two outs on two walks and an infield single, but a fielder's choice force out kept the game scoreless.
Lorusso placed a single into left with one away in the second but would not advance.
A RMU error, a steal, an illegal pitch and a two-out single would score the first run of the game in the home half.
McCartney singled to center to begin the third, and Gurganus moved the runner along with a sacrifice. A Penn State error would tie the game, and Gerhart then banged a two-out double on a line to right center to put the Colonials on top.
Penn State would retake the lead quickly as it scored six times on five hits, two of which did not leave the infield, and two walks.
RMU would not go away, though, as Lorusso worked a full count walk to begin the fourth. Senior
Haileigh Stocks then laced a double to left. One run would score on a ground ball by Pray as the rookie reached on a miscue. With two down, Capp came through by knocking a two-run single to the opposite field to bring the Colonials within two.
Ellzy worked around a two-out single in the fourth by striking out the next batter looking.
Lorusso ripped a double down the third base line into the left field corner with two outs in the fifth, but a groundout followed.
A RMU error, a groundout and a two-out single to left would score one unearned run for the hosts in the home half.
RMU was retired in order in the sixth on a trio of groundouts. Penn State put two on in the sixth, but Ellzy kept them off the board by getting a groundout to Stocks.
Gerhart would drive a single back through the middle with two outs in the seventh, but RMU was unable to get the tying run to the plate.
Ellzy allowed one unearned run and three hits in 3.1 innings of relief work in the second contest against Penn State.
Gerhart's two doubles on the day gave her four on the year and 21 in her career. Stocks' double tied her for the team lead with six and gave her 31 in her career.
Lorusso posted her first multi-hit game of 2016 in the nightcap, the seventh of her career. Her double was her second of the season and the seventh of her career.
Capp posted her second multi-RBI effort of the season in the setback.
RMU will enjoy Easter weekend off, its lone off weekend of the season. It will resume action next Tuesday, March 29, with a doubleheader at Youngstown State.
