Brooklyn, N.Y. – The
Robert Morris University softball team outhit host LIU Brooklyn in both games of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, but the Colonials were unable to use that formula to garner a victory at a sunny, but cool, LIU Field.
RMU dropped the opener, 4-1, and held a late lead in the nightcap before falling, 6-5.
Senior
Ashley Gerhart was on base frequently Saturday as she went 3-for-5 with two walks, a steal, a double, a RBI and three runs scored. Her seventh multi-hit game of the season, and 44th of her career, helped her move into a tie for ninth in career doubles at RMU (23).
Senior
Kristen Gabelt went 3-for-6 Saturday with a sacrifice and a run scored. The outfielder notched her 10th multi-hit outing of 2016 and the 32nd of her career.
Senior
Lauren Hackett had a fantastic performance in the nightcap Saturday as she went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. The veteran now has four multi-hit efforts in the last seven games as she tied her career high in hits that she had set just four games ago.
LIU only had baserunners in two distinct innings in the opener while RMU had runners reach in five frames, but the Blackbirds never trailed.
Gabelt knocked an opposite-field single with two down in the top of the first but would not advance.
A one-out bloop single and a home run down the left field line put the hosts on top in the home half.
Each team went down 1-2-3 in the second inning, as freshman
Laura Coulter was in the midst of a stretch in which she retired 15 consecutive Blackbird hitters.
Redshirt freshman
Kristen Pray and junior
Jordan Gurganus singled consecutively with one out in the third, but RMU was not able to take advantage.
Coulter got a fly out, a groundout and a strikeout in the home half to set down the side.
Gabelt singled to left with one out in the fourth, but the inning would come to an end when a Colonial was called out for interfering with the catcher's throw on a steal attempt.
Coulter got a fly ball to center and a pair of strikeouts in the home half of the fourth.
Senior
Haileigh Stocks ripped a double to left center, which just missed clearing the fence, to begin the fifth. However, she would be left on third base.
A popup on the infield and two fly ball outs to the outfield were the product of Coulter's work in the bottom half.
After RMU went in order in the sixth, LIU added a pair of insurance runs with two outs. A trio of hits and a walk helped the Blackbirds tack on a couple runs.
Gerhart and sophomore
Olivia Lorusso both singled to start the seventh inning, but RMU was unable to bring the tying run to the plate. Robert Morris would crack the scoring column on a RBI groundout by freshman
Abrielle McCartney, but the Colonials could not plate any more runs.
Robert Morris led throughout nearly the entire second game, but LIU had a late charge to win it at the end.
Hackett and Gabelt singled consecutively with one out in the first, and Gerhart then ripped a double to the fence in right center to score one run. After a second out, Stocks singled home Gabelt, and Gerhart would come around to score on a LIU error. Junior
Stacey Capp then drilled a sharp liner that was stabbed by the shortstop for the third out.
Freshman
Kaitlin Ellzy retired the hosts 1-2-3 in the home half on a strikeout and two groundouts.
After RMU went in order in the second, LIU would plate a single run in the home half. A leadoff hit batter, a groundout that advanced the runner and a two-out single put the Blackbirds on the board.
Hackett singled sharply to left to open the third, and Gerhart followed one out later with a walk. After a groundout advanced both runners, Hackett would race home to score on a wild pitch.
Ellzy struck out the side in order in the bottom of the third.
Capp shot a single into center to start the fourth and was promptly sacrificed to second by freshman
Taylor Bartlow. Pray then nailed a sharp liner that may have scored a run, but it was stabbed by the pitcher, and RMU was unable to score.
A two-out single was no harm to Ellzy in the bottom half as she nicely handled a groundout to end the frame.
Hackett singled to left to open the fifth, and Gabelt immediately sacrificed her to second. Gerhart then singled to put runners on the corners. With two outs, Lorusso drove a double into the right center gap to score a run.
Ellzy worked around some shaky Colonial defense in the home half as LIU loaded the bases on a couple of miscues and a walk. The rookie got a looking strikeout to strand the trio of runners.
Capp led off the sixth by driving the eighth pitch of her at bat into right center for a double. Two outs later, Gurganus singled and Hackett walked to load the bases. However, a popup ended the chance.
A bunt single with two down in the sixth did not create a scoring opportunity.
Gerhart walked to lead off the seventh. She successfully stole second with one out but was then controversially called out at third after an overthrow, ending a RMU scoring chance.
The Blackbirds saved their best for last as they used six hits, two walks and a hit batter to score five times in the bottom of the seventh, including the winning run with two outs.
Stocks' two-bagger was her seventh of the season and 32nd of her career, moving her into a tie for third all-time by a Colonial in that category.
Capp's double was her seventh of the season, and 10th of her career, which helped her contribute her seventh multi-hit effort of the year. Lorusso's double was her fourth of 2016 and the ninth of her career.
Gerhart moved into a tie for 10th all-time at RMU in runs scored (93) Saturday.
Hackett tallied her sixth multi-hit performance of 2016 Saturday, the 13th of her career.
Robert Morris will be right back in action Sunday as it continues its road trip with a NEC doubleheader at Sacred Heart at Noon.
