// AT PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS //
// MARCH 20, 2019 // UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. // NITTANY LION SOFTBALL PARK //
 
AT PENN STATE
13-12 Overall
March 20 // 5:00 p.m. (DH)
 
Series // 6-7
Home // 0-0
Away // 2-5
Neutral // 4-2
Streak // W1
Last Meeting // W, 5-0; 3.28.18 (2) at Penn State
Last RMU Loss // L, 7-9; 3.28.18 (1) at Penn State
 
// NOW BATTING
The Colonials are scheduled to play north of the Mason-Dixon Line for the first time in 2019 when they travel to University Park for a doubleheader against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Wednesday, March 20. First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m. Robert Morris is looking to end an eight-game losing streak after taking the St. Patrick's Day weekend off.
 
// AROUND THE HORN
> Abrielle McCartney leads RMU with a .300 average, going 15-of-50
> Katie Gasvoda is 27th nationally and first in the NEC with two saves
> Four of the Colonials nine home runs have come with two strikes — Shiderly (1-2 count), Clark (2-2), Miller (1-2), Miller (3-2)
> RMU batters are 5-of-16 (.313) pinch hitting this season vs. an .188 overall average
> Taryn Miller is 2-for-2 in pinch hitting appearances
> Colonials non-starters hit at a .346 clip (9-26) overall with a .538 slugging percentage
> Madison Riggle leads the way going 3-for-4 (.750) hitting in a reserve role
> The Colonials are 10-for-15 advancing runners from third with less than two outs
> Colonials pitchers have a 4.77 ERA in relief appearances vs. a 6.43 ERA in starts
> RMU scored 19 runs in its opening four games, its best output in a four-game start since scoring 20 in 2011
> 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 plays its final preseason tournament of the year this weekend traveling to Catonsville, Md., to take part in the UMBC Retriever Classic. RMU will play five games over the three-day tournament against Albany and UMBC.