Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU softball team opened its final series of the 2022 regular season Saturday, falling to Youngstown State, 4-2, at YSU Softball Field. The Colonials fell to 27-17 (.614) overall during the 2022 campaign, including 16-7 (.696) in the Horizon League.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Penguins scored all four of their runs in the first three innings, grabbing an early 1-0 lead just three batters into the fray thanks to an RBI double from Conchetta Rinaldi. The drive to the gap in left center scored Megan Turner all the way from first. Youngstown State plated two more in the second, taking advantage of a pair of RMU errors. Avery Schumacher opened the inning by reaching third on a miscue, and Grace Cea brought her home with an RBI groundout to second. The Penguins manufactured their second run of the frame thanks to the stolen base. Elyssa Imler walked with two outs and stole second, and she came around to score when Yazmine Romero laced a ball that was misplayed on the infield.
GETTING ONE BACK
The Colonials got a run back in the bottom of the second. Sophomore
Charlotte Grover opened the inning with a walk off YSU starter Elle Buffenbarger, and fifth-year
Taylor Rhinehart looped a single to center to put two runners on. Redshirt freshman
Meadow Sacadura advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt before freshman
Anna Resnik grounded out to second, scoring Grover. The Colonials couldn't add on, however, and the Penguins pushed their lead back to three in the top of the third, 4-1, as Nikki Saibene singled to left center to score Hailey Roach, who reached on a double.
QUOTABLE
"We didn't start well tonight, which has been our issue in the losses that we've had this year," RMU head coach
Jexx Varner said. "As a whole we've responded well in these moments. We are where we are and tonight's result doesn't change a thing. Everything that we've played for all year is in front of us, and I wouldn't take any other team going into the last two games of the regular season."
CIRCLE THE WAGONS
Senior
Dana Vatakis took the loss for the Colonials, dipping to 7-7 overall during the 2022 season. She gave up two earned runs in 2.1 innings before yielding to junior
Rachael Rhinehart, who was stellar in relief. In 4.2 innings Rhinehart allowed just two hits and a pair of walks while striking out four. Buffenbarger picked up her 20th win of the season from the circle for Youngstown State (30-22 / 16-9 #HLSB), allowing five hits and a pair of walks while striking out nine.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
In RMU's losses during the 2022 campaign, the Colonials have been outscored, 40-10, in the first three innings of contests. In its 27 victories in 2022, RMU has outscored its foes, 70-40, in the opening three frames.
Taylor Rhinehart picked up two of RMU's five hits Saturday, her 10th multi-hit effort of the 2022 campaign. Freshman
Alaina Koutsogiani, meanwhile, drove home RMU's second run of the game in the bottom of the seventh, ripping a triple to left center that scored junior
Avery Winchell, who singled to right center with one out.
UP NEXT
RMU and Youngstown State conclude the 2022 regular season Sunday, May 8, with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at YSU Softball Field.
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