Mount Pleasant, S.C. – The
Robert Morris University softball team split a set of games on the first day of the Holy City Showdown hosted by the College of Charleston in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Friday morning. The Colonials got a handful of solid performances as they move to 4-14 on the year with a 7-2 win against UMass Lowell (3-6) and a 6-3 loss to Chattanooga (7-13).
Abrielle McCartney collected five hits, one a double, in eight at bats and drove in a pair of runs.
Kristen Pray and
Jordan Gurganus each recorded four base knocks. Pray had seven at bats, a stolen base and a run scored while Gurganus crossed home three times and laced a double.
Olivia Lorusso provided the big bat, especially in game one, as she hit her third homer of the season and tallied four runs batted in.
In the circle, Coulter pitched 6.2 innings in relief over two games. She did not give up an earned run while striking outs seven, walking two and allowing just five hits.
The Colonials did not hit the snooze bar in the 9:00 a.m. game, riding the caffeine-high to a four-run first inning and an eventual 7-2 win. They pounded out 11 hits with seven different players recording at least one base knock. Lorusso went 2-of-3 and picked up four runs batted in thanks in large part to a three-run blast in the sixth inning. Gurganus was 3-for-4 while Pray and McCartney each had two hits.
Gurganus and Pray started the game with singles before Capp quickly put RMU on the board as she knocked in the Colonials leadoff hitter. Lorusso's first hit of the day plated Pray before
Natalie Higgins drove in Capp with a hit up the middle. Robert Morris tacked on a fourth run when Lorusso and Higgins worked a double-steal.
UMass Lowell took advantage of three walks and an error in the third inning to push two runs across the plate. That also forced RMU starter Kaitlyn Ellzy from the game and Coulter got the final out quench the fire.
RMU put the game out of reach in the sixth inning as Lorusso belted a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence. Her third homer of the season scored three runs as
Taylor Bartlow and Gurganus both scored on the shot.
Coulter earned the win in relief. She did not allow a run and whiffed seven over the final 4.1 innings of work. She gave up just three hits.
In game two, RMU again put the bat on the ball as they racked up 13 hits, but they left 11 runners stranded on base.
Stacey Capp was 3-of-4 and scored twice while McCartney had three hits and a pair of RBI in the second games. Pray and Bartlow also had two hits.
The Colonials once again got off to a quick start in game two. Gurganus started the game with a double down the right field line. Capp followed with a single and two batters later, McCartney hit a line drive single to left field that scored Gurganus and Capp and staked RMU to a 2-0 lead.
That advantage didn't last long as the Mocs loaded the bases with a three singles in a row. Jesslyn Stockard then unloaded them with a grand slam home run to right center.
Robert Morris got one back in the third inning when Capp, who started the frame with a single, would score on a double-steal with McCartney. Chattanooga would put two on the board in the fourth inning. Five hits, including an RBI double by Brook Womack, accounted for the scoring. RMU starter
Madison Riggle would exit after 3.2 innings and Coulter would come on to finish off the contest.
Mocs starter Payten Price went the distance for the victory, scattering 13 hits while allowing three earned runs. She struck out six batters to run her record to 5-10.
The Colonials continue play in the tournament tomorrow, March 11, when they play Northern Kentucky and host Charleston in a doubleheader starting at 6:00 p.m.
