RMU @ Runnin' Bulldog Softball Tournament
Friday, Feb. 14, 2020 – Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020
Brinkley Stadium • Boiling Springs, N.C.
 
Cracker Jack & Sunflower Seeds

- The Robert Morris University softball team returns to action with its second tournament of the 2020 season by traveling to Boiling Springs, N.C., this weekend for Runnin' Bulldog Softball Tournament at Brinkley Stadium on the campus of Gardner-Webb University.

- The Colonials open the tournament against Valparaiso Friday, Feb. 14, at 10:00 a.m. and will also face Colgate at Noon. RMU will take on the host Runnin' Bulldogs on back-to-back days at Noon (Feb. 15 and Feb. 16) and will also face Colgate a second time Saturday, Feb. 15, at 4:00 p.m.

- RMU opened its 2020 season by splitting four games at the Blue Hose Invitational in Clinton, S.C., Feb. 7-9. The Colonials split a twin bill with host Presbyterian (2/7) and also knocked off South Carolina State (2/8).

- Senior Natalie Higgins hit .462 (6-for-13) at the Blue Host Invitational with three runs, a home run and a team-high seven RBI. She finished 1-for-2 at the dish in a 15-2 win over South Carolina State (2/8) with two runs and three RBI and the next morning smacked her first home run of the 2020 campaign with a two-run shot against Norfolk State (2/9).

- Senior Madison Riggle doubled her career output in home runs at the Blue Hose Invitational, hitting a pair in back-to-back days. Her first of the year, in a 15-2 victory over South Carolina State (2/8), marked the first career grand slam for the senior. Riggle added a solo home run against the Spartans and on the tournament hit .455 (5-for-11) with three runs and six RBI.

- Sophomore Katie Gasvoda picked up her first career victory in the pitching circle in the win over the Lady Bulldogs, allowing two earned runs on five hits in five innings.

- Sophomore Dana Vatakis produced a 1.17 ERA in three appearances at the Blue Hose Invitational, yielding just a pair of earned runs in 12 innings of work. She struck out 10 and walked four.

- Robert Morris will have a week before returning to North Carolina after taking part in the Runnin' Bulldog Softball Tournament by traveling to Wilmington, N.C., to take compete in the Seahawk Softball Challenge Feb. 28-March 1, 2020.

RELATED: Robert Morris 2020 Schedule

Double Trouble – Seniors Natalie Higgins and Briana Bunner enter the Runnin' Bulldog Softball Tournament tied for fifth all-time in program history for career doubles, as each owns 31. Higgins posted a pair of doubles last weekend for the Colonials at the Blue Hose Invitational, while Bunner doubled in a 7-6 win over Presbyterian (2/7) in RMU's first victory of the 2020 campaign. The pair are chasing the school of 41, which is held by former Colonial Lauren Dickinson (1999-02).

Ducks On The Pond – Senior Natalie Higgins drove in a team-high seven runs as RMU split four games at the Blue Hose Invitational last weekend in Clinton, S.C., to open the 2020 campaign. The performance pushed her career total in RBI to 81, helping her crack the top 10 in program history. Higgins is currently tied with Sara Headley (1996-99) for 10th in the Robert Morris career record book. Just two Colonials in school history have eclipsed 100 career RBI, including Kali Byers (2004-06) with 141 and Heather Ferrari (1991-94) with 102.

Connor's Cure – For the second consecutive season, Robert Morris will take part in a season long fundraising effort with Connor's Cure Hit-A-Thon, which will help raise money to help conquer pediatric cancer while benefiting Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Hit-A-Thon provides two options to raise money, including a pledge of a certain amount of money per statistical category for the 2020 season or a flat donation.

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