Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University softball team opened a six-game homestand Saturday at the North Athletic Complex by being swept by LIU Brooklyn.
The Colonials fell in game one, 13-10, in eight innings, before dropping a 7-1 decision in game two.
RMU slips to 13-34 overall (.277), including 4-6 (.400) in the Northeast Conference
// GAME ONE // vs. LIU Brooklyn // L, 10-13 (8)
EVERY INNING
The Blackbirds scored at least one run in each of its eight times at bat to eventually pull out a 13-10 victory over the Colonials. LIU Brooklyn got home runs from Ryleigh Bermea, a solo shot to right in the second inning, and Alina Castillo, another solo home run in the sixth that gave the Blackbirds a 9-6 lead.
THE ANSWER
Robert Morris faced deficits of 4-0, 8-2 and 10-6 but clawed back to send the game to extra innings on the heroics of senior
Abrielle McCartney. A perfect way to celebrate Senior Day, McCartney drilled an 0-2 pitch to right for a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to tie it, 10-10. McCartney finished 3-for-5 with three runs and four RBI in the setback. It marked McCartney's second three-hit effort in three games and has pushed her season average to a team-high .324.
MULTI-HIT EFFORTS
In addition to the three-hit game for McCartney, juniors
Natalie Higgins and
Taryn Miller and senior
Taylor Bartlow each collected a pair of hits. Higgins and Bartlow each went 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI, while Miller finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bartlow finished 3-for-8 in the double dip, rapping a pair of doubles for Robert Morris.
// GAME TWO // vs. LIU Brooklyn // L, 1-7
IN CONTROL
Victoria Lowe scattered five hits and allowed just an earned run in seven innings for the Blackbirds to improve to 8-7 on the 2019 campaign. She struck out three, getting 10 fly outs and eight ground outs while throwing 89 pitches.
SCORING STREAK
LIU Brooklyn scored a pair of runs in the top of the first to grab an early 2-0 and failed to score for the first time in the doubleheader in the top of the second, when freshman
Dana Vatakis retired the side in order. In all, the Blackbirds scored at least one run in 12 of the 15 innings played Saturday afternoon.
THE RUN
RMU got its lone run of the contest in the bottom of the third.
Kristýna Malá singled to right with one out, and McCartney followed by lacing a double down the line in right to send Mala to third. Freshman
Brittney Seibert worked a 2-2 count before lifting a ball to right to score Mala and close RMU's deficit to 3-1. Higgins struck out to end the threat.
// ON DECK
The Colonials return to the North Athletic Complex Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader with Mount St. Mary's to continue a six-game homestand.
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