CLEVELAND STATE DOME TOURNAMENT
February 10 & 11 // Cleveland Ohio
 
Saturday, February 10
10:00 a.m. // vs. Niagara
12:30 p.m. // at Cleveland State
 
Sunday, February 11
11:00 a.m. // vs. Canisius
1:30 p.m. // vs. Bowling Green
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NIAGARA
The Colonials and Purple Eagles have met 16 times since 1992, each squad going on significant runs during the series. RMU won the first seven times they played with Niagara following up with five straight wins. The teams have split the last four games, all of which have taken place at Cleveland State's Dome Tournament.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. CLEVELAND STATE
Robert Morris is 14-22 against the Vikings, 4-12 in road games, in a series that dates back to 1991. Each school has had its run of dominance in the series, the Colonials winning five of the first six while the Vikings won eight straight from 2000 through 2006. It has been more even over the last decade with RMU going 5-7 during that time period. Two of the last three games have gone to extra innings and the last seven games have been decided by two runs or less.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. CANISIUS
The Colonials are 7-12 all-time against the Golden Griffs with two of the last three games taking place at the Cleveland State Dome Tournament. Canisius has won four of the last five, including last season's game at CSU. That was the Colonials first neutral site loss to the Griffs.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. BOWLING GREEN
RMU is 2-5 against Bowling Green with all seven meetings taking place at neutral fields. Cleveland State has been the site of four games with the Falcons winning three of those. Robert Morris last beat Bowling Green in 2014, a 3-2 win in eight innings.
 
PRESEASON POLL
Robert Morris was selected second in the Northeast Conference Preseason Softball Coaches Poll after advancing to the NEC Tournament for the 27^th time in 31 seasons. The Colonials return 13 letterwinners and a total of 15 players from last season's team. Reigning league champion Saint Francis is the unanimous favorite to defend its title in 2018.
 
MUSKET SHOTS
- Junior Abrielle McCartney was an All-NEC First Team pick in 2017
- McCartney is the team's leading returner with a .324 batting average, a mark that topped designated players in the NEC
- Third baseman Olivia Lorusso is this season's lone senior
- Lorusso led RMU in all power categories last season with 10 homeruns, 14 doubles, 36 runs batted in and a .612 slugging percentage.
- The Colonials roster features 15 returners, including 13 letterwinners, and one freshman
- Over half the team, eight players, are underclassmen (seven sophomores, one freshman)
- The Colonials return nearly 75 percent of their at-bats from last season (1,045 of 1,395)
- In the circle, RMU brings back everyone who threw a pitch for the team last season
- Robert Morris has won four of the last seven regular-season NEC titles
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
Robert Morris plays in the first of five southern tournaments when it travels to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for five games at the Coastal Carolina Tournament from Friday, February 16, through Sunday, February 18.