Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University softball team opened an eight-game homestand at the North Athletic Complex Tuesday by splitting a non-conference doubleheader with Niagara.
The Colonials dropped the first game, 6-5, before earning a 2-0 win to cap the double dip.
RMU moved to 11-26 (.297) overall in 2019 with the split.
// GAME ONE // vs. Niagara // L, 5-6
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Junior
Taryn Miller drilled a home run to center on a full count with one out in the second inning to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead. It marked her second round tripper of the 2019 campaign. The Purple Eagles jumped on top, 2-1, by plating a pair of runs in the top of fourth inning before scoring four more times in the top of sixth. Niagara scored those four runs on just one hit, taking advantage of a pair of walks to open the inning as well as a hit by pitch.
CLAWING BACK
RMU scored three runs in the home half of the sixth inning, as senior
Taylor Bartlow drove in a pair of runs with a single, while freshman
Brittney Seibert added an RBI double. The Colonials took advantage of three errors by the Purple Eagles in the frame. Overall, Niagara suffered four miscues in the contest. Robert Morris also got a run in the bottom of the seventh, as Bartlow fouled out just outside the chalk to score Miller, but junior
Briana Bunner was tagged out trying to advance to third, ending the contest.
MULTI-HIT EFFORTS
Miller finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and an RBI, senior
Abrielle McCartney went 2-for-4 and Bartlow went 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI in the contest for the Colonials.
// GAME TWO // vs. Niagara // W, 2-0
A GEM
Senior
Kaitlin Ellzy, who came on in relief to pitch two innings in game one, got the start from the circle in game two and spun a complete game, scattering three hits, walking two and striking out a pair. It marked her first win of the season. In the two games against Niagara, Ellzy allowed four hits in nine innings and gave up just an unearned run.
ONLY NEED ONE
Robert Morris got the only run it would need in the bottom of the second. Bartlow opened the inning with a walk after running the count full, and two batters later freshman
Madison Shiderly also walked. Freshman
Kristyna Malá followed by getting a sacrifice bunt down, but a bad throw from pitcher Sierra Bertrand allowed Bartlow to score and give the Colonials a 1-0 advantage.
TACKING ON ANOTHER
Freshman
Erika Bell helped RMU add an insurance run in the bottom of the third, as her grounder through the left side on a 1-1 pitch scored McCartney, who opened the inning by reaching on an error by first baseman Jerri Ann Orfano. Robert Morris also finished with just three hits in the second game, with McCartney going 1-for-2 with a run.
// ON DECK
RMU gets right back at it Wednesday, April 10, with a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader against Youngstown State at the North Athletic Complex.
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