Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University softball team continued an eight-game homestand Wednesday at the North Athletic Complex, splitting a doubleheader with Youngstown State.
The Colonials dropped a 3-2 decision in the first game before rebounding to record a 4-1 win over the Penguins behind the arm of freshman
Dana Vatakis to earn the split.
RMU moves to 12-27 (.308) overall in 2019.
// GAME ONE // vs. Youngstown State // L, 2-3
PENGUINS STRIKE EARLY
YSU got a run in the top of the first inning to grab an early 1-0 advantage. Yazmine Romero led off the game by reaching on an error, then stole second two batters later. She would come around to score on an RBI single to right off the bat of Grace Cea. In the third inning, the Penguins scored two more runs, as Lexi Zappitelli hit an RBI triple, while Cea picked up her second RBI of the contest with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Zappitelli.
CLOSING THE GAP
Robert Morris picked up a pair of runs in the home half of the third inning.
Madison Shiderly,
Kristyna Malá and
Brittney Seibert opened the inning with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases. Three batters later junior
Briana Bunner brought a run home by taking a pitch off the arm to score Malá. Freshman
Erika Bell followed by falling behind in the count, 1-2, before drawing a walk and scoring Seibert.
LEADING OFF
Seibert led the RMU offense by going 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot and scoring a run. She also went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored in game two and has now hit safely in six of her last seven games. During that stretch, Seibert is hitting .556 (10-for-18) with five runs, six RBI, three doubles and a home run.
// GAME TWO // vs. Youngstown State // W, 4-1
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
This time the Colonials grabbed the advantage in the first inning, as an RBI single from senior
Abrielle McCartney scored Bell to give RMU a 1-0 advantage. Two more runs came across the plate in the bottom of the third as McCartney drilled an RBI double to left center that scored Seibert all the way from first base. Shiderly also drew a walk with the bases loaded to score McCartney and give Robert Morris a 3-0 cushion. McCartney finished 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI in the victory, while Bell and Shiderly also produced multi-hit efforts.
ADDING ON
RMU got another run in the fourth. Senior
Taylor Bartlow looked like she grounded out to second with two on to end the inning, but Youngstown State was called for catcher's interference. That loaded the bases for junior
Taryn Miller, who was hit in the back by pitcher Paige Geanangel. Seibert trotted home with a run to give the Colonials a 4-0 lead.
IN CONTROL
Vatakis sparkled in game two, allowing just two hits and an unearned run while striking out three from the circle. She didn't get into trouble until the top of the seventh, where she issued her two free passes. YSU scored its lone run on an error and had runners at first and third, but Vatakis got Milena Lacatena to fly out to right to end the game.
// ON DECK
Robert Morris returns to Northeast Conference action Saturday, April 13, with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against Wagner at the North Athletic Complex.
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