MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU softball team showed grit and resilience on Tuesday afternoon, coming from behind in both games to sweep a doubleheader against Saint Francis (Pa.). The Colonials claimed Game 1 by a score of 11-7 and followed it up with a dramatic 5-4 win in Game 2. With the victories, RMU improves to 8-9 on the season and extends its winning streak to four games.
 
GAME 1: RMU 11, SFU 7
In the opener, Saint Francis jumped ahead early, plating four runs in the top of the first inning, including a pair of home runs.
 
RMU wasted no time responding, as Kaylyn Hopf singled to lead off the bottom half. After Resnik was hit by a pitch and Hopf advanced to third on a wild pitch, Mary Brant drove her in with a single through the left side. Another wild pitch moved Brant and Resnik into scoring position, setting up Jess Matheny, who continued her hot streak with a two-run double to right field to cut the deficit to one.
 
RMU tied the game in the second when Jaimee Hardy doubled and scored on a groundout by Resnik. In the third, Brant doubled deep to center and came home on an RBI double by Alaina Koutsogiani, giving the Colonials their first lead of the day. Sequoia Dunlap added to it with a groundout RBI, extending the lead to 6-4.
 
Saint Francis rallied in the top of the fifth to tie the game at six, but the Colonials responded once again. Koutsogiani singled to lead off the bottom half, and Matheny followed with a two-run homer to left, putting RMU back in front. Dunlap then reached on an error and later advanced to third on a stolen base and another SFU miscue. Hardy made it hurt with a home run—her second in as many games—to give RMU a commanding 10-6 lead.
 
The inning was capped off by an unearned run as Resnik reached on an error that allowed Katlyn Jardine to score. Saint Francis managed one more run in the seventh, but the Colonials held on for the 11-7 win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
RMU outhit the Red Flash 13-5 in Game 1. Matheny led the way at the plate with three hits and four RBI. Brant, Koutsogiani, and Hardy each had two hits, while Resnik and Hardy drove in two runs apiece. Madelyn Coleman started in the circle, striking out three over three innings, while Kaitlyn Molitoris came in for relief, throwing the final four innings, striking out three, and earning her second win of the season.
 
GAME 2: RMU 5, SFU 4
In Game 2, the Red Flash once again got on the board first, scoring in the top of the first. RMU answered quickly, as Courtney Poulich reached base after being hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Brant to tie it at one. Saint Francis regained control with two runs in the second and added another in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
 
The game remained quiet until the bottom of the sixth, when RMU began to chip away. Resnik walked and Poulich singled, followed by a base hit up the middle from Koutsogiani that brought Resnik home. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed Poulich to score, narrowing the gap to 4-3.
 
In the seventh, freshman Sequoia Dunlap delivered the spark the Colonials needed, coming off the bench to hit a pinch-hit solo home run to tie the game at four. Hopf then walked and stole second. With one out, Resnik dropped a single into left field to bring Hopf home for the walk-off win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Saint Francis outhit RMU 11-7 in the second game, but left nine runners stranded. Resnik led the team with two hits and added the game-winning RBI. Brant, Koutsogiani, and Dunlap also recorded RBIs. Sammie Borrayo made her first home start of the season, pitching 3.1 innings and striking out three. Hardy closed out the game, tossing the final 3.2 innings, striking out two, and picking up her first win of the season.
 
QUOTABLE
Head coach Jexx Varner acknowledged the team's resilience but noted there's still work to do. "We gave up too many runs that we had control over today that put us in a hole," said Varner. "Our pitchers and our defense need to right the ship enough to allow our offense to have a chance to keep us in the game. It wasn't pretty today, but it was solid enough for us to focus on our strengths and earn two wins."
 
Reflecting on the four-game win streak, Varner said, "We still have a lot to work on. But you can start to see we're getting better in many areas over these last four games. We're finding our rhythm and getting more reps. This is a talented group—if they work together, the sky is the limit."
 
Varner also praised the team's pinch-hitting efforts. "We gave Lilly Stump the start in the second game. These mid-week games are about winning but also about giving players looks. Today, it was Dunlap's turn—and she came through. We've had several players step up as pinch-hitters. That's a great strength of our team right now."
 
UP NEXT
RMU returns to Horizon League action this weekend with a road trip to Green Bay. The series is scheduled for March 21-22.
 
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | RMU Athletics Gameday App