Los Angeles, Calif. – It was a tough day for the Robert Morris University softball team as they suffered a pair of losses at UCLA's Easton Field as part of the Louisville Slugger Invitational Friday. The Colonials, now 3-14, lost to Ohio University, 8-1, before suffering an 11-0 setback to the #2 UCLA Bruins in the nightcap.
 
// GAME ONE // VS. OHIO // L, 1-8 //
 
// Rounding the Bases
Morgan Geno hit a two-run, two-out home run in the bottom of the first to give the Bobcats a lead they would not relinquish. Deanna Cole hit a two-run shot the next inning that extended the margin to 4-0. Ohio added a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Robert Morris got on the board in the sixth when Abrielle McCartney singled with two outs. Briana Bunner followed with a double to right field to plate the team's lone run. The Bobcats pushed two more across in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Natalie Alvarez and the Colonials fourth error of the game.
 
// The Batter's Box
Ohio pounded out 12 hits and put a total of 18 runners on the bases. Pond went 3-of-4 from six hole, all singles. Geno, Alvarez and Cole each had two hits and two RBIs with Geno and Cole hitting two-run homers. Outside of the balls that cleared the fence, all of the other hits by the Bobcats were singles.
 
Kaitlyn Clark was 2-for-3, both singles. McCartney added a single in three at-bats and Bunner accounted for an RBI with a double in the sixth inning.
 
// Inside the Circle
Mackensie Kohl pushed her record to 6-2 on the year with the complete game effort. She struck out four and allowed four hits and one earned run. .She used 87 pitches, throwing 56 for strikes, to lower her season ERA to 2.32.
 
Katie Gasvoda lasted just one inning, giving up four runs and five hits. Laura Coulter was charged with seven hits and four runs, just one earned, in 4.1 innings of relief. Madison Riggle pitched 2/3 of a frame.
 
// GAME TWO // AT #2 UCLA // L, 0-11 (5) //
 
// Rounding the Bases
It turned out to be a sign of things to come when Bruins first hitter of the game, Briana Perez, hit a ball down the right field line and wheeled all the way around the infield for an inside-the-park home run. UCLA ended up hitting three home runs on the day, the other two of the more conventional variety. UCLA added two in the second on an RBI triple by Kinsley Washington before a single from Kelli Godin pushed home another.
 
The Bruins exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning, sending 14 batters to the plate. Bubba Nickles singled in one before Aaliyah Jordan launched a grandslam to right center stretching the margin to 8-0. Taylor Pack then hit a two-run shot to left before Paige Halstead's RBI double capped the game's scoring.
 
// The Batter's Box
UCLA collected 12 hits on the day, including three homeruns, a double and a triple. Perez and Pack each had two hits, a home run and two RBIs. Godin added a pair of baseknocks and Jordan had the big blow, a fourth-inning grand slam.
 
Riggle accounted for the only RMU hit, a double to right center in the fifth inning.
 
// Inside the Circle
Megan Faraimo was impressive striking out 12 of the 16 batters he faced. She allowed just one hit in the five inning victory, throwing 51 of her 65 pitches for strike. Faraimo improved to 5-1 with the result.
 
Dana Vatakis was the pitcher of record for the Colonials working 3.1 innings. She allowed eight runs and nine hits on the day. Gasvoda and Kaitlin Ellzy finished out the game for RMU.
 
// ON DECK //
The Colonials wrap up their spring break trip against Boston University in a 1:00 p.m. Eastern game at Easton Field on Saturday, March 10.