Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University softball team opened Northeast Conference play Saturday by sweeping a doubleheader from Central Connecticut in New Britain, Conn.
The Colonials earned a 5-2 victory in the first game at CCSU Softball Field before posting a 2-0 win in the nightcap to improve to 8-21 overall, including 2-0 in the NEC.
// Game One // @ Central Connecticut // W, 5-2 //
// Just One Swing
Senior
Abrielle McCartney led off the second inning with a solo shot to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead, which ignited a five-run inning and would be all the offense RMU would need. Sophomore
Kaitlyn Clark provided an RBI single four batters later to push the lead to 2-0 for the Colonials, and freshman
Ashley Kent drilled an RBI double. Robert Morris also took an advantage of an error by Central Connecticut's Rian Eigenmann to score all the runs it would need.
// A Perfect Circle
Freshman pitcher
Dana Vatakis allowed just one hit through the first four innings of the contest and didn't allow her first run of the game until designated player Sydney Bolan led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run. It didn't phase Vatakis, who went distance, allowing just a pair of earned runs on six hits while striking out eight.
// The Batter's Box
McCartney finished 1-for-4 for RMU and connected for her second round tripper of the 2019 campaign, while Clark went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
// Game Two // @ Central Connecticut // W, 2-0 //
// A Perfect Circle Part Deux
Senior
Laura Coulter was spectacular in earning her first win of the year from the pitching circle, scattering four hits and striking out six while not issuing a free pass. She allowed Eigenmann to open the bottom half of the first with a single but retired 12 of the next 13 hitters. Alexa Milius singled to open the bottom of the seventh inning for the Blue Devils, but Coulter followed by getting Meg Dugas to foul out to
Madison Shiderly and induced a pair of fly balls to complete the gem.
// The Batter's Box
RMU picked up both of its runs in the fourth inning. Junior
Natalie Higgins led off the inning with a walk and came around to score with McCartney, who singled after the walk, on a two-RBI single from Shiderly. Higgins produced a 2-for-3 afternoon in game two at the dish, scoring a run while also drawing a walk.
// On Deck
The Colonials conclude their swing through New England Sunday, March 31, with a doubleheader in Smithfield, R.I., against Bryant. First pitch of game one is slated for 10:00 a.m., as the double dip was moved up to avoid bad weather.
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