Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU softball team opened a four-game series with Green Bay Saturday at King Park, dropping both ends of a doubleheader. The Phoenix posted a 13-0 win in five innings in game one before earning a 5-2 triumph in game two. The Colonials slip to 7-7 (.500) overall on the 2021 season, including 2-4 (.333) in the Horizon League.
GAME 1 • L, 0-13 (5)
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Green Bay (9-5 / 4-2 #HLSB) scored all 13 of its runs in the first three innings of the contest en route to victory in five innings. Crystal Guzman provided a bases clearing double in the first frame to open the scoring, the Phoenix plated seven more in the second and scored three more in the third. Green Bay was also aided by four errors on the contest by the Colonials, which led to three unearned runs. A pair of home runs capitalized the victory, with Morgan Bihun connecting for a two-run shot in the second, while Alyssa Brewer's solo dinger capped the scoring.
OFF BALANCE
Kayla Schwebke held the RMU offense in check, retiring the first five hitters she faced before junior
Erika Bell drew a two-out walk in the top of the second. Bell also supplied the Colonials with their only hit in the contest, singling to lead off the fifth and extending her hitting streak to six games. Schwebke shook off the single by Bell, getting sophomore
Avery Winchell to fly out to right before striking out sophomores
Danielle Jason and
Rachael Rhinehart to end the game. Schwebke struck out seven in the victory and faced three batters over the minimum.
GAME 2 • L, 2-5
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
For the second consecutive game, Green Bay scored three runs in the home half of the first inning. Brewer provided the big hit for the Phoenix, hitting her second home run in as many games, a three-run shot to left. Brewer drove home Bailey Schultz, who opened the inning with a single and stole second, and Jadin Justman, who drew a one-out walk off Rhinehart. The Phoenix added two more in the bottom of the third, with Schultz again igniting a rally by opening the inning by reaching base on a hit by pitch. She came around to score three batters later on a wild pitch.
BREAKING THE ICE
RMU entered the weekend as one of the top hitting teams in the Horizon League but was held in check Saturday, finishing the doubleheader against the Phoenix just 3-for-39 (.077) at the dish. The Colonials scored both of their runs in the top of the fourth. Junior
Brittney Seibert opened the inning by drawing a walk, and graduate student
Natalie Higgins followed by snapping an 0-for-10 funk with a two-run home run to center. It marked the second round tripper of the 2021 season for Higgins.
SETTLING DOWN
Brittany Baneck settled in after allowing the home run to Higgins, not allowing a hit the rest of the way in a complete-game effort. She also struck out seven while issuing three free passes. Bell had her hitting streak snapped in the second game for RMU, finishing 0-for-3.
UP NEXT
RMU concludes its four-game series with Green Bay Sunday with a twin bill at King Park. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for Noon.
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