Cleveland, Ohio – The Robert Morris University softball team lost twice on opening day of the 2018 season dropping contests to Niagara and the host Vikings at the Cleveland State Dome Tournament Saturday. RMU lost its opener, 3-0, to the Purple Eagles before losing a late lead in a 9-8 loss to CSU.
 
Natalie Higgins was one of three Colonials to collect three hits as she went .500 (3-6) on the opening day of play. She scored twice and was perfect in nine chances in the field. Abrielle McCartney laced a pair of doubles and collected three RBI while going 3-of-7. Taryn Miller also went three-for-seven and had a double and an RBI. Olivia Lorusso and Briana Bunner each collected a pair of runs batted in.
 
The Purple Eagles took advantage of a leadoff walk in the first inning of the opener when Kelsey Harrigan drew a free pass and advanced to third on a bunt and a throwing error. Harrigan later scored after another throwing error. Jennifer Timm homered to center field to leadoff the second inning to give Niagara a 2-0 lead. The Purples Eagles rounded out the scoring in the seventh on a Jerri Ann Orfano double with runners on first and second.
 
The Colonials managed five hits in the game, all singles. Kristen Pray, Higgins, Katie Isenberg, Miller and Bunner accounted for the base knocks. Laura Coulter took the loss despite scattering eight hits over seven innings and allowing just two earned runs. Karsen Cotton was the winning pitcher as she struck out five over six innings of work.
 
The RMU bats came alive against Cleveland State as they pounded 12 hits and crossed the plate eight times but couldn't overcome 10 walks to hold onto a 7-1 lead after 3 1/2 innings before falling, 9-8.
 
McCartney had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and three runs batted in. Lorusso and Bunner each knocked in two runs while Lorusso, Higgins and Miller collected two hits apiece.
 
Cleveland State took the early lead as another walk would haunt Robert Morris. After drawing the free pass, Emery Sipe went to second on a passed ball and scored when Macy Kaisk drove her in with a hit to left field.
 
After going down in order in the first two innings, two-out lightning struck for the Colonials in the third inning. Higgins' double started the rally. Pray followed with a single and both scored when Lorusso collected a hit up the middle. The senior third baseman then stole second which allowed her to make the score 3-1 on McCartney's ground ball through the middle of the infield.
 
RMU continued to pour on the runs in the fourth inning. Bunner plated both pinch runner Jordan Sterling, who went in for Ashlee Groover following her single, and Miller who doubled earlier. McCartney ripped a bases loaded double to right field which knocked in Higgins and Bunner to put the Colonials ahead, 7-1.
 
Robert Morris starter Madison Riggle struggled with her control throughout the game and it would cost RMU in the fourth. Four walks in the inning led to a pair of runs for Cleveland State despite failing to record a hit. Coulter would come on after the last free pass, but the Vikings rally continued. They scored three times in the fifth inning and tied the game in the sixth when Mackenzie Joecken's bunt with runners on second and third made it 7-7.
 
In the top of the seventh, McCartney laced a one-out double to right center and scored on Miller's two-out single to left center to put RMU back on top, 8-7. After a leadoff walk by Coulter in the seventh, Riggle came back to the rubber. Another walk and single loaded the bases for the home team and Riley Ries made the Colonials pay with a double to right center that plated two runs and gave Cleveland State the walkoff win.
 
Riggle took the loss, allowing just four hits but walking seven in 3.2 innings. Coulter allowed five runs, three earned, and walked three batters in 2.2 innings of relief.
 
The Colonials return to the Krenzler Dome against Canisius and Bowling Green Sunday, February 10, beginning at 11:00 a.m.