Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University softball team continued a six-game homestand Sunday by earning a split with Mount St. Mary's at the North Athletic Complex.
The Colonials fell in game one, 9-1, in five innings before bouncing back to earn a 7-4 victory in game two.
RMU moves to 14-35 (.286) overall in 2019, including 5-7 (.417) in the Northeast Conference.
// GAME ONE // vs. Mount St. Mary's // L, 1-9 (5)
STRIKING FIRST
The Mount (25-26 / 9-7 NEC) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as Mariah Godde doubled to drive in Kate Wade, who tripled to open up the inning. Mount St. Mary's then took control by scoring eight runs in the top of the fourth on seven hits and were aided by a pair of errors by Robert Morris. Emilee Kirk and Kaylee Stoner each provided two-run doubles for the Mount.
GETTING ONE BACK
The Colonials got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, as senior
Abrielle McCartney opened the inning by lacing a double to right center. She would come around to score two batters later when junior
Natalie Higgins singled to left to make it 9-1.
SETTLING IN
RMU couldn't get to Amanda Berkley the rest of the contest, as she allowed just four hits and struck out three while facing 18 batters. Junior
Briana Bunner accounted for RMU's other two hits in game one, singling to lead off the second inning and singling in the fourth.
// GAME TWO // vs. Mount St. Mary's // W, 7-4
STRIKING FIRST PART DEUX
For the second straight game the Mount struck first, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first off freshman
Dana Vatakis. Stoner opened the game with a single to right and stole second before Godde ripped a single to center to give Mount St. Mary's an early 1-0 lead. Godde would eventually come around to score on an error.
GET ONE RIGHT BACK
RMU got one run right back in the bottom of the first, as McCartney slammed a home run to center, her fifth of the campaign, to lead off the inning and make it 2-1. The dinger helped McCartney stretch her hitting streak to six games. During that run she is hitting .524 (11-for-21) with seven runs, six RBI, three doubles and a pair of home runs. Since going 0-for-3 in the second game of a doubleheader @ UMBC (3/23) and dropping her average to a season low .266, McCartney has raised her average 65 points over the last 26 games, hitting .379 (33-for-87) with 21 runs, nine doubles, four home runs and 16 RBI. Against NEC foes, McCartney is hitting .366 (15-for-41).
WEB GEM
The score remained 2-1 when it looked like Robert Morris might grab a lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Colonials loaded the bases with two outs, and McCartney worked a full count before lacing a shot into the left center gap. Wade kept the lead intact for Mount St. Mary's, sprawling out for a diving catch to preserve the one-run lead.
BREAKING IT OPEN
The Colonials wouldn't be denied in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs on seven hits to grab a 7-2 advantage. Freshman
Brittney Seibert and Higgins opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Bunner moved the runners over by grounding out to second base. Senior
Taylor Bartlow followed with a single to left to tie it, 2-2. Freshman
Erika Bell gave RMU its first lead of the afternoon by drilling a single to left on a full count to score Higgins. Robert Morris also got a sac fly from freshman
Madison Shiderly, a double from rookie
Kristýna Malá, who was hitting right handed against Mount southpaw Avery Neuhart, and an RBI single from McCartney.
BACKING IT UP
Vatakis would make the lead stand, as she allowed just two earned runs in the complete-game effort. She scattered eight hits and worked around four walks, striking out one and improving to 9-14 overall from the circle in 2019.
MULTI-HIT EFFORTS
Malá finished 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI as the Colonials snapped an eight-game slide. The three hits were a career high for the freshman. McCartney, Siebert and Bell each went 2-for-4, with McCartney driving in a pair and scoring a run.
// ON DECK
Robert Morris concludes the home portion of its 2019 schedule Saturday, May 4, with a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader against Sacred Heart. So far this season at home, McCartney has hit safely in 11 of the 12 contests at the North Athletic Complex, posting a batting average of .425 (17-for-40) with team high totals in runs (11), home runs (3) and RBI (11). She also has three doubles and a triple to her credit at home.
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