Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Sophomore pitcher Madison Riggle picked up a one-hit victory and a save to lead the Robert Morris University softball team to wins over Kent State, 3-2, and Lafayette, 4-0, Friday at Coastal Carolina University's Battle at the Beach. The victories are the first of the season for the Colonials who move to 2-4 after opening the 2018 campaign at Cleveland State last weekend.
 
Riggle was dazzling on Friday, allowing just three hits, no runs and striking out seven in 10 innings of work. She earned a three-inning save in the opener against Kent State, striking out the side in the seventh, before twirling a one-hitter against the Leopards. She allowed just three baserunners in that contest to run her season record to 1-2.
 
At the plate, Natalie Higgins and Taryn Miller each collected three hits on the day. Higgins hit her first homer of the season and Miller had a double. Briana Bunner also had a home run as one of her two hits and collected four runs batted in on the day.
 
Against Kent State, Higgins sent the second pitch of the game sailing over the center field fence to pin RMU to a 1-0 lead. It was the first leadoff home run by a Colonial since Feb. 23, 2014, when Tess Apke went yard in a 7-0 win at Charlotte. The Golden Flashes knotted the score in the second inning when Jen Cader reached on an error and cruised home on a double off the bat of Emily Dobbin.
 
The score remained tied until Miller sent a full count pitch into center to plate Olivia Lorusso who had reached on an infield single. Bunner followed with a one-bagger to left field which allowed Abrielle McCartney to score and stretch the Colonials lead to 3-1.
 
Kent State responded immediately as Dobbin reached second on an error to start the bottom half of the fifth. She scored two batters later on a single by Holly Speers. Riggle, who came on in relief after the first batter reached base in the fifth, buckled down and struck out two batters to end the threat. Riggle went on to strike out the side in the seventh inning to earn her first career save.
 
Laura Coulter threw four strong innings for the victory. She allowed just one hit and two unearned runs while striking out three batters.
 
With Riggle holding Lafayette to nothing but zeroes in the second game, Robert Morris would get all the runs it needed in the second inning. McCartney started the frame with a single before Miller roped a double to right center. Bunner then sent a shot over the center field fence to stake the Colonials to a 3-0 lead.
 
The bases-clearing blast did not end the rally, though. Ashlee Groover, Bridget Guiney and Higgins hit three consecutive singles before Kristen Pray drew a walk to force in the team's fourth and final run of the contest.
 
Riggle set the Leopards down in order in four of the seven innings. The lone hit from the Colonials Pennsylvania counterpart was an infield single by Paige Grover in the sixth inning.
 
Robert Morris is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 17, when they take on host Coastal Carolina at 2:00 p.m. and Rider at 7:00 p.m.