vs. NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL 1-6 Overall Feb. 24 // 1:00 p.m.   Series // 0-0       Home // 0-0 Away // 0-0 Neutral // 0-0 Streak // Last Meeting // Last RMU Win //

at USC UPSTATE 6-1 Overall Feb. 24 // 6:00 p.m. Feb. 25 // 10:00 a.m. (DH)   Series // 0-0 Home // 0-0 Away // 0-0 Neutral // 0-0 Streak // Last Meeting // Last RMU Win //

 
// NOW BATTING
For the second week in a row, the Robert Morris University softball team takes on teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Big South when it participates in the Wings Etc. Classic hosted by USC Upstate at Cyrill Field Sunday and Monday, February 24 and 25. The Colonials take on their third MEAC team of the season in the form of North Carolina Central — one week after caputring wins against Norfolk State and Delaware State — in the early contest Sunday. RMU finishes off the event with three straight against USC Upstate.The Spartans were picked to finish second in the Big South according to the preseason poll. The Colonials lost twice to the preseason favorite in the Big South, Longwood (0-2, 1-4), last weekend.
 
// AROUND THE HORN
> Robert Morris opened the season by going 2-2 at the Lancer Launch
> RMU scored 19 runs in its opening four games, its best output in a four-game start since scoring 20 in 2011
> Senior Abrielle McCartney has hit safely in all four games this season and leads the team with a .500 average (6-12)
> McCartney, an All-NEC First Team pick in 2017, led the squad in homers (3) and RBIs (26) in 2018
> Freshman Madison Shiderly has reached base safely in all four games and is hitting .333 (4-12)
> The Colonials have not been charged with an error in four games, the team's longest blemish-free streak since 2016
> Two of the Colonials three home runs have come with two strikes — Shiderly (1-2 count), Clark (2-2)
> Just three of the 15 runs that RMU pitchers have allowed have come over the final four innings
> RMU pitchers have posted a 2.62 ERA in relief appearances, just three runs in 8.0 innings of work
> The Colonials return 11 players from their 2018 team, including every player who threw a pitch for the team
> RMU added seven freshmen to its 2019 roster, two pitchers and five position players
> Sophomore Kaitlyn Clark was an All-Northeast Conference First Team pick as a utility player last season
> Clark hit .274 last season, playing 36 games and starting 25 at five different positions
> Five of the team's top six hitters return to the squad for 2019
> The team's top hitter, Natalie Higgins, is back after hitting .361 and leading the team in slugging percentage (.541)
> Higgins tied the team record for doubles last season with 14
> Freshman Kristýna Malá played for the Czech National Team in 2018
> The Colonials have won four of the last eight NEC regular-season titles
> RMU had the fifth-highest grade point average, 3.598, in NCAA Division I last season and claimed the NEC Team GPA Award
> Robert Morris was picked ninth in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll
 
// ON DECK
Robert Morris is scheduled to take on five different teams next weekend at the Liberty Spring Classic from March 1-3. Play begins with Rutgers and Liberty on Friday, followed by contests with Cleveland State and Quinnipiac Saturday before a non-conference game against NEC-foe Sacred Heart on Sunday.