Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU softball team continued play in the Low Country Classic Saturday, falling to Syracuse, 3-2, in its first action of the afternoon before falling to host Charleston, 3-0, in the nightcap at Patriots Point. The Colonials slipped to 3-5 (.375) overall during the 2023 season.
GAME 1 • L, 2-3 • vs. Syracuse
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Colonials have found it fashionable to get the early lead this weekend in South Carolina, and in their first action of the day Saturday did the same against the Orange. Sophomore
Alaina Koutsogiani used her speed to help RMU grab the early advantage. She singled to center to lead off for the Colonials and promptly stole second. A 10-pitch at bat by junior
Faith Miller followed in which she spoiled four pitches after falling behind in the count, one-and-two, before earning a free pass. Koutsogiani then stole third, but the throw from catcher Laila Alves was off the mark and sailed down the line, allowing Koutsogiani to trot home with the game's first run. Miller moved up to third on the error and came around to score when senior
Avery Winchell grounded out to second.
ANSWERING
Syracuse (6-5) was able to grab the lead in the top of the second, scoring three runs on three hits and taking advantage of an RMU miscue. Three batters into the frame Tessa Galipeau connected for an RBI double to drive in Rebeca Clyde, who reached on a fielder's choice. Angie Ramos added a two-run single that pushed the Orange on top, 3-2. From then on out it was all pitching.
IN CONTROL
Syracuse starter Lindsey Hendrix found a rhythm after giving up the two runs in the first inning, as after allowing the leadoff single to Koutsogiani didn't allow a hit the rest of the contest. She retired 15 consecutive Colonials until Winchell drew a walk to open the top of the seventh. It marked RMU's only baserunner in the final six innings. Hendrix improved to 2-1 on the year in the complete game, walking a pair and striking out seven.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior
Dana Vatakis dipped to 0-3 on the year but was the hard-luck loser against the Orange. She also went the distance for her second complete game of the season, striking out a season-high six while allowing just one earned run. She walked three.
GAME 2 • L, 0-3 • vs. Charleston
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Facing the host Cougars for the first time during the tournament, the Colonials couldn't get much offense going against Payton Lemire, who scattered four hits and worked around four walks and a wild pitch in notching a complete game. She struck out five in throwing one less pitch than sophomore
Madison DeVault. The day after willing the Colonials to a victory over Syracuse, DeVault gave up runs to Charleston (3-9) in the second, fourth and sixth innings but struck out five and walked three.
ALL YOU NEED IS ONE
Charleston got the only run it would need in the bottom of the second, when Caroline Conner jumped on the first pitch she saw from DeVault and homered to right center. The Colonials had an opportunity to tie it in the top of the third with runners on second and third and one out but couldn't push a run across. Karlee Hughes added an RBI infield single in the fourth as well as an RBI single up the middle in the sixth for a pair of insurance runs for the Cougars.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Out of the leadoff spot Saturday Koutsogiani reached base safely four times in the two games and finished 4-for-4 in stolen bases. It marked the first four swipes of the season for Koutsogiani and pushed her career total to 42, which is tied for fourth in the RMU career record book with Gwen Leidy (1996-99). Against the Cougars, Koutsogiani was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and two stolen bases.
UP NEXT
RMU wraps up play in the Low Country Classic Sunday by taking on Charleston in a 1:30 p.m. first pitch at Patriots Point.
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