Clearwater, Fla. – Despite the late night laundering efforts of the Robert Morris University softball team's coaching staff, the Colonials white pants' magical thread showed a bit of wear Sunday morning against Saint Joseph's. After improving to 5-0 in their white pants with a pair of wins Saturday, the Colonials were shutout by the Hawks while wearing the blank britches Sunday morning. RMU slips to 6-15 with the setback while SJU moves to 8-5.
 
In a classic pitcher's duel that featured five hits – all singles – by each team, Saint Joseph's Ashley Ventura picked up the victory as she struck out six and walked just one to improve to 4-3 with the complete game effort. Madison Riggle's pitching was much more democratic. The sophomore induced 11 flyouts and six ground balls while using just 79 pitches in her six innings of work.
 
The Colonials loaded the bases with one out in the second inning when Bridget Guiney walked and Taryn Miller and Katie Isenberg followed with singles. Ventura, however, was up to the task and ended the threat with a pair of strikeouts. Chances in the fourth and sixth innings by Robert Morris ended in similar fashion as it stranded six runners.
 
The Hawks tallied the game's only run in the bottom of the fifth when Lauren Reilly was hit with a pitch and Jancarla Herrera walked. Riggle nearly escaped the jam as she induced Molly Kapala into a pop-up to record the second out. Howver, Amanda Kulp hit a shot down the third base line, just out of tip of the outstretched glove of Olivia Lorusso, to bring in the gamewinning score.
 
Riggle nearly had the game-tying shot in the seventh, but her deep fly ball to center was kept in the park as Kulp leaped high above the fence to deny the home run ball.
 
RMU returns to the diamond at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational next weekend. The squad begins with games against Dayton and the host Redhawks on Friday, March 16.