Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The
Robert Morris University softball team played in a pair of lopsided contests Saturday afternoon during the second day of the Battle at the Beach hosted by Coastal Carolina University. Robert Morris lost its first contest of the day, 14-0, to the host Chanticleers before bouncing back with a 13-4 victory over Rider.
Natalie Higgins enjoyed a 5-for-7 day that featured a pair of the doubles, two runs batted in and three runs scored.
Taylor Bartlow,
Briana Bunner,
Kristen Pray and
Olivia Lorusso each had two-hit days.
In the nightcap against the Broncs, RMU took advantage of three first inning errors and two hits to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Higgins scored on a single by Lorusso before errors led to two more runs. It was more of the same in the second inning as the Broncs committed another two errors.
Bridget Guiney doubled to start the frame and RMU loaded the bases on singles by Higgins and Pray. Lorusso picked up an RBI with a groundout and a pair of throwing errors allowed Higgins to come home.
Rider got four of their six hits in the top of the third resulting in three runs and cutting the RMU lead to 5-3. Toni Nino's bases loaded single pushed two across the plate. The next two half innings were scoreless until the fourth.
A two-out base knock by
Taryn Miller pushed one run across.
Ashlee Groover then took one for the team, her bases loaded beaning bringing home Miller. After Rider scored one in their half of the fifth inning, the Colonials bats exploded for six hits and six runs, envoking the mercy rule when they took a 13-4 lead. The first six batters of the inning reached base for the Colonials with Bartlow, Lorusso,
Abrielle McCartney and Bunner each picking up RBIs. With two outs, Higgins laced a bases loaded double to right field that scored two, inducing the mercy rule with the Colonials taking a 13-4 victory.
Riggle went the distance for the victory as she was tagged with four runs, all earned, while striking out three in five innings. The sophomore runs her record to 2-2 overall.
In game one, Coastal Carolina scored twice in the opening frame and never looked back. The Chanticleers tacked on five more runs in the second inning with the big blows coming on doubles by Timi Tooley and Mackenzie Budinger which each scored two runs. The host squad put up seven runs in the fourth with Chelsea D'Avilar's homer to left field highlighting the rally.
Laura Coulter took the loss going 2.0 inning and allowing four runs. Both Riggle and
Lacee Collins threw in relief. Kaitlin Beasley-Polko was the winning pitcher as she struck out 10 and allowed three hits in five innings of work. Higgins, Bunner and Bartlow each singled for RMU.
Robert Morris closes play at the Beach at the Beach tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 18, when it takes on Connecticut at 10:45 a.m.
