Moon Township, Pa. – It was a mixed bag for the
Robert Morris University softball team in its home opening doubleheader against Cleveland State on a perfect Wednesday afternoon at North Athletic Complex. The Colonials picked up a walk off win, 6-5, in the opener before falling in the nightcap, 8-5, to move to 6-21 on the season.
Briana Bunner led an offense that produced 18 hits on the day by going 4-for-7 with a pair of runs batted in.
Taryn Miller,
Abrielle McCartney and
Erika Bell all had three hits while Miller knocked in three runs.
// GAME ONE // VS. CLEVELAND STATE // W, 6-5 //
// Walk It Off
With the scored tied, 5-5, in the bottom of the seventh, Bell ripped a one-out single to left center field to set the table.
Natalie Higgins, who hit her team-leading fourth home run earlier in the game, walked to put runners on first and second. McCartney then stepped to the plate, took a first-pitch ball before driving a single into the gap in right center. Bell motored home from second on the base knock to give the Colonials a 6-5 victory.
// Rounding the Bases
Cleveland State used a pair of hits to take a 1-0 lead in the first. The second one was run scoring single off the bat of Riley Reis. The Vikings extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third as they opened the frame with four straight hits. Lindsay Ward's single scored one run before Ries doubled in a pair. That hit chased RMU starter
Katie Gasvoda after two innings.
The Colonials answered with three runs on three hits and an error in the third. RMU loaded the bases on singles by
Brittney Seibert and Bell before
Ashley Kent reached via error. After a fielder's choice cut down one run at the plate, McCartney forced in one run with a groundout. Miller followed with a single to right that plated
Natalie Higgins and Kent.
Higgins then launched a two-run bomb, her fourth of the season, in the fifth inning to stake the Colonials to a 5-4 lead. Cleveland State tied the game in the sixth courtesy of a double by Sydney Bajusz before an RMU error allowed the tying run to score.
// The Batter's Box
Bell went 3-for-4 with a double from her leadoff spot and scored on three occasions. Higgins, McCartney and Miller each had two runs batted in with Miller picking up a pair of base knocks. Ries drove in three runs for Cleveland State
// Inside the Circle
Madison Riggle earned the win in relief, running her season mark to 2-0. She threw five innings, allowing just three hits and a single unearned run. Gasvoda lasted two innings in the start and was charged with four runs and six hits. Hanna Griffin took the loss in 6.2 innings where she allowed nine hits and six runs.
// GAME TWO // VS. CLEVELAND STATE // L, 5-8 //
// Rounding the Bases
After three scoreless innings to start the night cap, the Vikings struck first via a solo homer by Ries, her first of the season. Robert Answered immediately in the fourth inning as McCartney tripled off the fence in right center to leadoff the frame. After a fielder's choice allowed Miller to reach, an error on Bunner's grounder allowed McCartney to score. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, a mistake that led to RMU taking the lead when Miller scored on a groundout by
Madison Shiderly.
The 2-1 lead lasted until the Vikings' three run sixth inning. Ries struck again, driving in one run with a single. A passed ball allowed the go-ahead run to score before a fielder's choice left the Colonials staring at a 4-2 deficit. Miller hit a solo home run in the sixth, but Cleveland State put up a four-spot in the seventh inning thanks to five hits and a pair of fielding miscues. Only one of those runs was forced in by a base hit and that came off the bat, once again, of Ries.
Bunner drove in Higgins and McCartney in the bottom half of the inning, but the Colonials would get no closer, falling 8-5.
// The Batter's Box
Bunner collected three hits and two RBIs in the night cap. McCartney and
Taylor Bartlow, who started at catcher for the first time at any level, each had two hits. Miller tied Higgins for the team lead in home runs, collecting her fourth of the season in the sixth. Ries was 3-of-4 for the visitors, driving in three runs with a double and a homer.
// Inside the Circle
RMU starter
Laura Coulter went five strong innings, tying her season high with five strikeouts. She allowed just two hits and one run before giving way to
Dana Vatakis. Vatakis took the loss, allowing eight hits and seven runs – four earned – over the final two frames. Kelly Hysong went the distance for Cleveland State. She scattered nine hits and gave up three earned runs while whiffing four.
// On Deck
The Colonials open Northeast Conference play Saturday, March 29, at Central Connecticut State. They'll continue league play at Bryant on Sunday.
