Cleveland, Ohio – The Robert Morris University softball team suffered a pair of setbacks on Sunday at the Cleveland State University Dome Tournament. The Colonials fell in the opener, 7-5, to Niagara before losing a 1-0 decision to Bowling Green.
 
Senior Jordan Gurganus went 3-for-7 on the day with a run scored and a run batted in. Freshman Briana Bunner was 3-of-6, scoring twice and knocking in one while junior Olivia Lorusso collected two RBI and two hits in five at bats.
 
In the nightcap, Madison Riggle spread out eight hits over six innings and struck out four. She allowed just one earned run in the loss. Bowling Green's Meredith Miller collected the shutout, striking out six and giving up five hits.
 
The game's lone run came in the third inning. Aspen Searle singled down the left field line to drive in Alex Sorgi who singled earlier in the inning. Riggle worked her way out of the jam, though, getting a pair of groundouts to leave runners stranded at second and third.
 
The Colonials best chance to score came in the top of the third. Back-to-back singles by Kristen Pray and Gurganus put two runners on base with two outs before Stacey Capp popped out to third base.
 
In game one against Niagara, RMU scored the game's first run in the third inning. Bunner opened the inning with a single and would later score on a wild pitch. The lead lasted until the bottom of the fourth when the Purple Eagles finally solved Colonials starter Lauren Coulter.  Niagara strung together four straight hits to open the inning, a double by Rachel Funk driving in two to end the string of hits. Lacee Collins came in to replace Coulter at that point, getting a ground out before a throwing error allowed the Purple Eagles to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Niagara tacked on three more in the fifth, all unearned. The Purple Eagles scored on another Funk double, a wild pitch and a single by Sarah March to push the margin to 7-1.
 
Robert Morris answered in the top of the sixth. Lorusso delivered a one-out single to score Gurganus and Katie Isenberg to make it 7-3. In the top of the seventh, Bridget Guiney laced a single through the middle to start the inning. Bunner followed with a double into the gap in right center to score Guiney. After a pair of infield outs, Gurganus slapped a two-out single through the middle of the infield to cut the lead to 7-5 before Niagara was able to get the final out.
 
Coulter was saddled with three earned runs and eight hits in 3.0 innings of work. Collins also threw three innings, allowing three hits and three runs, none of which were earned.
 
The Colonials head south next weekend to participate in the Eastern Michigan Madeira Beach Tournament. They'll begin play against UMass and Siena on Friday, Feb. 17.