SALEM, Va. – The RMU softball team started the Hokie Classic falling 18-6 to Penn State and 2-1 to James Madison. The Colonials now hold a 2-3 record to start the 2025 season.
GAME 1: Penn State 18, RMU 6
Penn State took an early lead with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in the first inning. RMU quickly responded as
Courtney Poulich's RBI single drove in
Kaylyn Hopf to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Nittany Lions extended their advantage, scoring nine runs over the next three innings, including three home runs, to make it an 11-1 game.
RMU fought back in the fourth, rallying for five runs.
Makayla Jardine launched her first career home run, a solo shot to left-center.
Sequoia Dunlap followed with a pinch-hit grand slam, her first of her career, bringing in Poulich,
Abby Quickel, and
Mackenzie Hoover to make it 11-6.
Penn State responded with a seven-run fifth inning, securing an 18-6 lead. The Colonials couldn't mount another comeback, and the game ended in five innings.
GAME 2: James Madison 2, RMU 1
The Colonials struck first in the top of the second inning when Poulich doubled to center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Freshman
Mary Brant delivered with an RBI single up the middle, giving RMU a 1-0 lead.
JMU answered in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on a walk and stolen base. A single to right field and a groundout brought in two runs, putting the Dukes ahead 2-1.
RMU had chances to even the score, including a third-inning double from Dunlap and a seventh-inning single from pinch-hitter
Jaimee Hardy, but couldn't push across the tying run.
BY THE NUMBERS
Against Penn State, seven Colonials recorded a hit, including first hits of the season for Hoover and Jardine. Dunlap's grand slam and Jardine's solo shot highlighted RMU's offense. Poulich, Quickel,
Lilly Stump, and
Katlyn Jardine each drew a walk. In the circle,
Kaitlyn Molitoris started, while
Kailani Tatro and
Jaimee Hardy made their season debuts.
Katlyn Jardine led the defense with seven putouts, while
Anna Resnik added three assists.
Against JMU, RMU outhit the Dukes 5-3, while both team's left five runners on base. Brant recorded her first career hit and RBI, while
Alaina Koutsogiani added a stolen base.
Madison DeVault pitched a complete game, striking out three batters over six innings and throwing 105 pitches.
HEAD COACH JEXX VARNER'S POSTGAME QUOTES
"This was a tough three-game stretch for us. Getting up at 6:00 AM to drive 4.5 hours to play someone's home opener and then back on the bus to finish the trip with a 1.5-hour ride is tough, against anyone. Not to mention, the quality of teams we faced. It wasn't ideal but it was necessary to get games in."
"I'm proud of our fight against Penn State, we had phenomenal pinch-hit AB's to get us back in the game. And, we had a quality response in the afternoon game against JMU. DeVault threw well, Brant played a very good at 1B and is having quality AB's. Hardy had a great pinch-hit AB and Poulich hit a ball that should've given us the lead in the sixth inning but it was knocked down in the wind."
"We've got a lot to work on and clean up but we definitely have certain things going well too. We're excited to get back on the field and keep the rhythm going."
UP NEXT
The Colonials continue the Hokie Classic tomorrow with a doubleheader, facing Bucknell at 10:00 AM followed by Villanova at 12:30 PM.
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