Farmville, Va. – Abrielle McCartney collected four hits as the Robert Morris University softball team upended Norfolk State, 11-8, in the day's first contest before defeating Delaware State, 7-1, in the night cap at the 2019 Lancer Launch hosted by Longwood University Friday. RMU pounded out 20 base knocks to win a pair of games.
 
Nine different players collected hits on the day with eight of those registering multiple base knocks. The Colonials had eight extra-base hits, slugging at a .540 clip, and were not charged with an error in 14 innings of defensive work.
 
GAME 1 // VS. NORFOLK STATE

// Rounding the Bases
The Colonials scored single runs in the first and second innings before freshman Madison Shiderly launched her first career homer, a two-run shot, to left center in the third inning. At the time, it staked RMU to a 4-3 lead. The Spartans, who left the bases juiced in the first after scoring twice, also had a single run in the second before retaking the lead, 5-4, with a two-run, four-hit third inning.
 
Robert Morris put up a five-spot in the fifth inning. With one out, six consecutive batters reached base safely. Kaitlyn Clark's double started the parade and she would later score on a fielder's choice by freshman Erika Bell. Freshman Brittney Seibert then drew a bases loaded walk before McCartney singled to right center to plate two more. A sacrifice fly by Natalie Higgins capped the five-run inning.
 
Clark's first homer of the new campaign in the sixth inning stretched the RMU lead to 11-5. Norfolk State ripped three doubles in the bottom of the frame, plating three runs, to end the game's scoring at 11-8 in favor of RMU.
 
// The Batter's Box
The Colonials pounded out 10 hits with McCartney, Shiderly, Clark and Madison Riggle each collecting two. McCartney led the squad with three runs batted in. Both Clark and Shiderly, hitting fourth and fifth in the lineup, hit two-run bombs and scored twice while the latter added a double. Riggle's two hits came after she appeared in relief.
 
// Inside the Circle
Laura Coulter started but did not factor in the decision. She lasted two innings, allowing five runs and six hits, exiting the game trailing 5-4. Riggle pitched three full innings, allowing three runs and six hits before giving way to freshman Katie Gasvoda. The rookie from Wellsburg, W.Va., pitched her way out of a sixth inning jam to earn a two-inning save, the first of her career.
 
Hunter Halford took the loss for Norfolk State giving up nine runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. She didn't have much help as the Spartans committed four errors.
 
// Worth Noting
Shiderly recorded her first career homer and the first RBIs of her career in the game … Bell also picked up her first career RBI courtesy of a bases loaded walk … Gasvoda's two inning relief appearance resulted in her first career save and is just the seventh save by an RMU pitcher since 2015.
 
GAME 2 // DELAWARE STATE
 
// Inside the Circle
Freshman Dana Vatakis was in control throughout Friday's game as she cruised to her first career victory in her second start. The rookie needed just 79 pitches, 71 percent of which went for strikes, to get the complete game in which she recorded 18 ground ball outs. She scattered five hits, walked just two batters and struck out one.
 
Brianna Baker was saddled with the loss, lasting four innings while giving up five runs and seven hits. Tiffany Diao finished the game and was charged with two runs and three hits in two innings.
 
// Rounding the Bases
Higgins got the scoring started when she went big fly in the bottom of the first, her first hit of the season clearing the left center field wall. RMU exploded in the second with four hits and four runs. Taryn Miller knocked in Riggle with a single, then came home when Seibert laced a single to right field. After McCartney doubled down the line, Higgins picked up her second RBI of the game with a ground out and Briana Bunner doubled in another run to put the Colonials ahead, 5-0.
 
The Hornets only run of the game came in the third when Jaelyn Baker singled in Jonah Cunningan. Bell tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the fifth inning with a two-out double that plated Riggle and Miller.
 
// The Batter's Box
McCartney continued to swing the hot bat from the leadoff spot, going 2-of-3 with a double and a run scored. Bell was also 2-of-3 with a double that drove in two runs. Bunner collected a pair of hits, her first of the season, in four appearances. Higgins hit a first inning homer and accounted for two RBI. Jasmine Melgoza had two of the Hornets five hits.
 
// Noteworthy
RMU has now gone four games without committing an error, the longest blemish-free streak for the squad since 2016 … McCartney went 6-of-12 with three RBI, two runs scored and a double on the weekend … Shiderly was 4-of-12 in her rookie debut weekend, blasting a homer and scoring twice.
 
// On Deck
The Colonials travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to participate in the Wings, Etc. Classic hosted by USC Upstate Feb. 23-24. RMU takes on North Carolina Central and the host Spartans on both days of the event.