GAMES 34-36
Purdue Fort Wayne (15-20 / 7-4 #HLSB) vs. RMU (16-17 / 6-4 #HLSB)
Friday, April 14, 2023 • 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 15, 2023 ­• 1:00 p.m. (DH)
North Athletic Complex • Moon Township, Pa.
 
Cracker Jack & Sunflower Seeds (Dubble Bubble, Too)
 
- The RMU softball team returns home to the North Athletic Complex to continue Horizon League action, hosting Purdue Fort Wayne for a three-game series. The two teams will square off Friday, April 14, at 3:00 p.m. in the single game before a doubleheader slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch Saturday, April 15.
 
- The Colonials dropped two of three @ Youngstown State earlier this week, falling in a pair of one-run affairs that bookended an 11-3 victory. Junior Charlotte Grover scored five runs during the series and also connected for her second and third home runs of the 2023 campaign to bolster RMU in the middle game.
 
- In 10 games against Horizon League foes in 2023, the Colonials top the leaderboard in shutouts (5) and opponent batting average (.196) while ranking second in earned run average (1.88). In 67 innings, the RMU pitching staff has struck out 60 hitters. The Mastodons, meanwhile, are hitting .318 (98-for-308) against #HLSB opposition in 11 games, which tops the league.
 
- Junior Charlotte Grover is hitting .333 (10-for-30) in 10 games against league opponents in 2023 and leads the Colonials in RBI (11) while ranking second in runs (10).
 
- RMU posted a record of 5-1 (.833) during a six-game homestand after sweeping a three-game series from Northern Kentucky at the North Athletic Complex last weekend. The Colonials opened the series with a 2-0 win before posting identical scores of 5-0 in both ends of a doubleheader to complete the sweep.
 
- The RMU pitching staff that consists of fifth-year Dana Vatakis, junior Jane Garver and sophomore Madison DeVault combined for 21 shutout innings, yielding just six hits and striking out 25 in the sweep of Northern Kentucky. It marks the first time on record in program history three different pitchers produced three complete game shutouts for the Colonials.
 
- During its six-game homestand, the trio of DeVault, Garver and Vatakis combined to record an earned run average (ERA) of 0.50, striking out 31 in 42 innings. DeVault and Garver were each 2-0 and did not allow an earned run, striking out 24, including 13 from Garver.
 
- RMU returns five starters from a 2022 squad that finished with an overall record of 31-21 (.596), including a mark of 16-9 (.640) in the Horizon League. The Colonials advanced to the championship game of the 2022 #HLSB Tournament in posting its first 30-win season since 2013.
 
- The Colonials are led by head coach Jexx Varner, who is in his fifth season at the helm of the program. He has posted a record of 94-106 (.470) but since joining the Horizon League RMU has notched an overall record of 72-57 (.558), including a mark of 42-27 (.609) in league play.
 
- In a poll of Horizon League head coaches, the Colonials were picked to finish second in the league in 2023. Oakland was tabbed as the favorite and received eight first-place votes in accruing 77 points, while RMU earned a first-place tally and compiled 68 points.
 
- RMU takes to the road for five consecutive games after taking on Purdue Fort Wayne this weekend at the North Athletic Complex. The Colonials will travel to Loretto, Pa., Tuesday, April 18, to open their road trip with a doubleheader against Saint Francis.

PURDUE FORT WAYNE LINKS
- Live Stats
- Video
- 2023 Schedule
- RMU Athletics Gameday App
 
The All-Time Series (Purdue Fort Wayne) – RMU owns an 8-3 (.727) advantage against Purdue Fort Wayne in an all-time series that dates back to 2006. Last season at the North Athletic Complex the Colonials swept a three-game series from the Mastodons, earning an 11-6 triumph in the single game before posting wins of 7-1 and 4-1, respectively, in the doubleheader. In two career starts against the Mastodons, junior Jane Garver is 2-0, allowing eight hits and two earned runs in 14 innings while striking out 19.
 
The Friendly Confines – The Colonials host Purdue Fort Wayne for a three-game series at the North Athletic Complex looking to continue their success at home, as RMU has posted a 6-2 (.750) mark in eight games in the friendly confines. Opponent are hitting just .174 (35-for-201) as the pitching staff that consists of fifth-year Dana Vatakis, junior Jane Garver and sophomore Madison DeVault have combined for an earned run average (ERA) of 0.62 in 56 innings. The trio have allowed just five earned runs, striking out 42 and combining for five complete games.
 
Meanwhile – While the RMU pitching staff has done its job at the North Athletic Complex, the bats are warming up with the weather. Junior Julia Ehrman has started each of RMU's eight games at home this season and is hitting .353 (6-for-17) with three runs, two RBI and a trio of stolen bases. Ehrman is one of nine different Colonials that have stolen base so far in Horizon League play as RMU is 19-for-21 (.904) as a team. Sophomore Alaina Koutsogiani leads the Colonials in #HLSB play in stolen bases with five.
 
The Notebook – RMU is 14-2 (.875) this season when scoring three or more runs and picked up its first win of the year when scoring two runs or less thanks to a 2-0 victory in the series opener against Northern Kentucky (4/7) … Junior Charlotte Grover is RMU's active leader in games played (117), starts (117) and consecutive starts (95) … Sophomore Alaina Koutsogiani leads the Horizon League in stolen bases (18) and is two thefts shy of tying the RMU career record of 58 … Senior Avery Winchell, who missed five games due to injury and has been limited to pinch hitting duties the last two games @ Youngstown State, still ranks third in the Horizon League in putouts (197), while Grover tops the circuit in assists (72) and is followed among #HLSB leaders by Koutsogiani (68).
 
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