Catonsville, Md. – The
Robert Morris University softball suffered a pair of losses Saturday at the La Quinta Inn & Suites BWI Classic hosted by UMBC Friday. The Colonials, now 4-18, lost to the Albany Great Danes, 8-3, in their first game of the day before dropping a 5-0 decision to the host Retrievers.
// GAME ONE // VS. ALBANY // L, 3-8 //
// Rounding the Bases
Robert Morris took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when
Taylor Bartlow reached second base on an error.
Natalie Higgins eventually drove her in with a two-out single to center field. The lead was short lived, however, as Albany strung together five hits and took advantage of an error to post four runs in the bottom of the frame. Aliyah Wade pushed home two runs with a single while Katie Falotico and Sarah Petzold drove in one each with singles through the middle of the infield.
Taryn Miller hit her third home run of the season in the top of the fourth, driving in
Briana Bunner who led off the frame with a single, to cut the margin to 4-3. That's how the score stood until the bottom of the fifth when the Great Danes put runners on second and third. Kelly Barkevich's single to right scored two before base knocks by Mariah Miramontez and Shaye Swiatek put Albany on top to stay, 8-3.
// The Batter's Box
Bunner went 2-for-3 and scored a run for RMU. Miller hit her third homer of the season, a two-run shot, to left field while Higgins third-inning single scored one run. Falotico and Swiatek each had three hits for the Great Danes. Swiatek had the only extra-base knock among the 12 hits collected by Albany.
// Inside the Circle
Dana Vatakis slipped to 3-6 with the loss. She went 4.2 innings, giving up 10 hits and eight runs while striking out three batters.
Katie Gasvoda did not allow a run in 1.1 innings of relief work.
Celeste Verdolivo picked up her sixth win, against just three losses, in a complete game effort. She struck out six and was charged with two earned runs.
// GAME TWO // AT UMBC // L, 0-5 //
// Rounding the Bases
For the 14th time in 22 games games, RMU allowed its opponent to score in the first inning. And it marks the ninth time they have allowed multiple runs. UMBC jumped out to a 2-0 lead as two hits and an error allowed Logan Hawker to drive in one run before she later scored on a wild pitch.
The Retrievers wouldl not score again until the sixth inning when with two outs, they strung together three straight hits. The final of those three was a three-run homer to left field off the bat of Kaly Winslow.
// The Batter's Box
The Colonials managed four hits in the game.
Erika Bell,
Madison Shiderly, Miller and Higgins each had singles. UMBC's Imani Dawson was the only player in the game with multiple hits, one of which was a double. Winslow's home run drove in three runs and Hakwer had an RBI single in the first inning.
// Inside the Circle
Katie Gasvoda earned the start for Robert Morris and suffered her fourth loss of the season. She was touched up for seven hits, four of which went for extra bases, and allowed five runs (four earned) in 5.2 innings.
Laura Coulter finished out the final 1.1 innings. Courtney Coppersmith was the complete game winner, giving up four hits and striking out 12 to improve to 7-6.
// ON DECK
Saturday's schedule has been tweaked with RMU playing host UMBC at 11:00 a.m. They'll return to action at 3:00 p.m. against Albany.
