Detroit Mercy (0-0 / 0-0 Horizon League) vs. RMU (5-3 / 0-0 Horizon League)
Friday, March 12, 2021 • 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 13, 2021 • 1:00 p.m.
North Athletic Complex • Moon Township, Pa.
 
Cracker Jack & Sunflower Seeds
 
- The RMU softball team opens a new era this weekend when it opens its first season in the Horizon League with a four-game set against Detroit Mercy at the North Athletic Complex. The Colonials and Titans will play a doubleheader Friday, March 12, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and will conclude the series with a 1:00 p.m. double dip Saturday, March 13.
 
- The Colonials concluded the non-conference portion of their schedule by going 1-3 against Howard last weekend in Washington, D.C., at Nationals Youth Academy. RMU won the opening game of the series, 12-2, before dropping the final three.
 
- Graduate student Natalie Higgins hit .714 (10-for-14) in the series against the Bison, collecting five runs, eight RBI, a pair of doubles, a triple and a home run. For her efforts, she was named the Nike #HLSB Player of the Week (3/10), the first league honor for RMU in program history.
 
- Overall on the 2021 campaign, Higgins has produced a slash line of .484/.515/.742, has hit safely in each of RMU's eight games and has driven in a run in seven consecutive games. She owns team highs in runs (7), hits (15), doubles (3) and RBI (12).
 
- Higgins is one of three Colonials to start each of RMU's eight games on the 2021 season. She is joined by senior Alaina York and sophomore Avery Winchell.
 
- Sophomore Danielle Jason enters RMU's four-game set with the Titans this weekend hitting .357 (5-for-14) in seven games, including four starts. She has scored four runs and leads the Colonials in stolen bases with four.
 
- Junior Dana Vatakis has posted a record of 3-1 (.750) from the pitching circle for RMU in four starts. She owns complete games in each outing and owns a 2.59 earned run average while holding opponents to a .233 average.
 
- The Colonials take to the road after hosting Detroit Mercy this weekend, visiting Green Bay, Wisc., for a four-game set with Green Bay at King Park. The Colonials and Phoenix square off for a doubleheader Friday, March 19, at 1:00 p.m. and a Saturday, March 20, at Noon.

DETROIT MERCY LINKS
- Video (3/12/21) - Game One
- Video (3/12/21) - Game Two
- Video (3/13/21) - Game One
- Video (3/13/21) - Game Two
- Live Stats
- RMU Athletics Gameday App
 
The All-Time Series (Detroit Mercy) – RMU has posted an overall record of 4-5 (.444) against Detroit Mercy, but this weekend's four-game set marks the first meeting between the two programs since 2015. Each of the previous nine contests took play at a neutral site. In 2015, the Colonials took a pair from the Titans in Oxford, Ohio, at the Miami Invitational. RMU opened the invite with a 6-3 victory and closed the tournament with a 5-0 triumph.
 
On The Offensive – RMU has gotten off to a solid start swinging the bats early in the 2021 season. The Colonials enter their Horizon League debut this weekend against Detroit Mercy pacing the league in almost every offensive category, including batting average (.304), runs (62), home runs (8) and RBI (55). Individually, graduate student Natalie Higgins paces the Horizon League in average (.484), hits (15) and RBI (12), while freshman Catalina Saxen tops the circuit in doubles (4).
 
Cashing In – A key reason the Colonials have gotten off to a good start offensively in 2021 has been taking advantage of key opportunities. As a team, RMU enters its four-game series with Detroit Mercy this weekend hitting .330 (32-for-97) with runners in scoring position, including a white hot .714 (20-for-28) with a runner on third and less than two outs.
 
Late Game Fireworks – RMU has scored 62 runs in eight games in 2021, an average of 7.8 runs per game. In the final three innings of games, the Colonials have scored 31 runs, including 13 in the sixth inning of contests. The Colonials are 5-1 (.667) in 2021 when leading after four innings.

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