Catonsville, Md. – Freshman pitcher Dana Vatakis allowed just two runs in 14 innings of work as the Robert Morris University softball team split a doubleheader at the La Quinta Inn & Suites BWI Classic hosted by UMBC Saturday. The rookie hurler struck out a season-high six batters in a 1-0 loss to UMBC to open the day before she went the distance in a 5-1 win against Albany to finish Saturday's action.
 
Natalie Higgins led the way on offense for RMU, going 4-of-8 with a run scored. Freshmen Brittney Seibert and Erika Bell along with senior Abrielle McCartney collected two hits. Seibert scored twice while Bell drove in a pair of runs.
 
// GAME ONE // AT UMBC // L, 0-1 //
 
// Inside the Circle
For the second consecutive day, Courtney Coppersmith held the Colonials at bay. She struck out five and scattered four hits over seven innings. She continuously pitched out of trouble as RMU put runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings.
 
Vatakis whiffed a season-high six batters while allowing seven hits as the tough luck loser. The freshman induced 11 ground ball outs while giving up just one run.
 
// Rounding the Bases
Maddie Daigneau led off the sixth inning with a single and advanced all the way to third on a groundout. The Colonials cut her down at on home on a squeeze attempt and looked to be out of trouble. Logan Hawker had other ideas, however, doubling to right field and allowing Sierra Pierce, who attempted the bunt, to score all the way from first for the game's lone score.
 
// The Batter's Box
Daigneau went three-for-three to lead all batters. Hawker had the game's only RBI and extra-base hit, a sixth inning double that scored Pierce.
 
Seibert had two hits, both singles, in three at-bats to account for half of the Colonials four base knocks. Higgins and Bell also had singles.
 
// GAME TWO // VS. ALBANY // W, 5-1 //
 
// Inside the Circle
Vatakis was back on the rubber for the team's second game of the day and picked up her fourth win of the year with another complete-game effort. The rookie allowed just three hits and a total of five base runners as she used just 82 pitches. Chloe Lewis was saddled with the loss for the Great Danes, allowing four runs and six hits in five innings. Taylor Light gave up a run and three hits in relief.
 
// Rounding the Bases
The Colonials got on top to stay in the first inning. Seibert drew an eight-pitch walk, then advanced to third with a stolen base and wild pitch. Bell then lifted a flight ball to right field, allowing her classmate to come home. Bell did the same thing in the third inning, her sacrifice fly pushing home Higgins who opened the frame with a single.
 
Taryn Miller walked to start the fourth and eventually scored on a single by McCartney. Ashley Kent then doubled to left and McCartney was able to motor home and push the margin to 4-0. Briana Bunner's seventh inning single pushed in Seibert who scored for the second time on the day and capped the scoring.
 
Albany's lone runs came in the sixth when Katie Falotico singled to right field, scoring Alexis Phillips who had reached on a fielder's choice.
 
// The Batter's Box
Higgins led the way for RMU from the leadoff spot. She was 3-of-4 and scored one run. Bell drove in a pair of runs was 1-of-2 on the day with a pair of sacrifice flies. McCartney tacked on two singles for a Colonials offense that produced nine hits. Falotico had two of the three hits for Albany.
 
// ON DECK //
RMU wraps up the tournament at UMBC when they take on Albany Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m.