Farmville, Va. – The
Robert Morris University softball team lost twice at Longwood University, 2-0 and 4-1, in it's opening day foray at Lancer Field in Farmville, Va. The Lancers, who had four games under their belt prior to Thursday, improve to 4-2.
GAME 1 // LONGWOOD
// Rounding the Bases
Longwood got the only runs it would need in the second inning. After a leadoff walk, Jordan Clark pounced on one of the few mistakes made by RMU starter
Laura Coulter, launching a two-run homer deep to left field to account for the game's only scoring. The Colonials did not advance a runner past first base while the homer was the only time Coulter allowed anyone past first base.
// Inside the Circle
Outside of the first two batters of the second inning, Coulter was masterful. The senior allowed just two hits and two runs in five innings of work. The Australian-born hurler needed just 56 pitches, 32 of them strikes, to make it through those five innings.
Kaitlin Ellzy threw an inning of scoreless relief. Longwood's Sydney Gay went the distance, spreading out three hits and striking out three to improve to 2-1 this season.
// The Batter's Box
Freshmen
Madison Shiderly and
Erika Bell each picked up their first career hits, both singles. Senior
Abrielle McCartney also had a single. In addition to Clark's homer, Alexis Wayland accounted for the only other hit for Longwood.
// Worth Noting
Coulter allowed just two runners beyond first base – the two who scored on the homer. Gay did not allow the Colonials to advance a runner past first. Junior
Briana Bunner, in her first collegiate start in centerfield, had a busy day defensively making seven catches.
GAME 2 // LONGWOOD
// Rounding the Bases
The Lancers opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with two runs as they had three singles in the inning. Alexis Wayland advanced home on a passed ball and one batter later, Jenna Dunn singled to third base to plate Karleigh Donovan.
Junior
Taryn Miller smoked a solo homer to center field to leadoff the third inning, cutting the margin to one run. Longwood answered immediately in the bottom of the frame when Kasey Carr hit a bases loaded double to stake the hosts to a 4-1 margin.
// Inside the Circle
Freshmen
Dana Vatakis and
Katie Gasvoda made their collegiate debuts for the Colonials in game two. Vatakis got the start, scattering seven hits and four runs over four innings of work. She found the strike zone with 43 of 77 pitches and struck out one batter. Gasvoda allowed just one hit and struck out two in two innings of scoreless relief.
// The Batter's Box
The Colonials had just two hits in the game. Miller hit her seventh career home run in the third inning to account for the only run and RBI of the day. McCartney singled and was the lone RMU player with multiple hits Thursday. The Lancers collected eight hits from eight different players. Carr's double driving in two runs proved to do the most damage.
// Worth Noting
McCartney stole second in third inning giving her 10 stolen bases in her career. She is 10-of-13 swiping bases.
// On Deck
Robert Morris continues action at the Lancer Launch on Friday, Feb. 15. Norfolk State and RMU will meet at 10:00 a.m. before the Colonials wrap up their opening week by taking on Delaware State at 2:30 p.m.
