YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A balanced offensive effort and another strong outing from senior pitcher Madison DeVault powered RMU softball to a 10-1 win over Youngstown State in the series finale on Thursday afternoon. With the victory, the Colonials improved to 19-11 overall and 11-3 in Horizon League play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
RMU wasted no time getting on the board. Kaylyn Hopf led off the game with a single, and Anna Resnik followed by reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, setting up an RBI groundout by Courtney Poulich to bring in Hopf. Alaina Koutsogiani then drove in Resnik with a single to give RMU an early 2-0 lead.
 
Youngstown State answered with a run in the second inning, capitalizing with the bases loaded. However, that would be the Penguins' only offense of the day.
 
The Colonials continued to build their lead in the third. Poulich reached on an error, followed by back-to-back singles from Brant and Koutsogiani to load the bases. Jess Matheny and Sequoia Dunlap both delivered sacrifice flies, extending the advantage to 4-1.
 
RMU broke the game open in the fourth with a five-run frame. Resnik and Poulich hit consecutive RBI singles up the middle, and Matheny followed with a two-RBI triple to the gap in right-center. Dunlap capped off the inning with another run-scoring single, pushing the lead to 9-1.
 
In the fifth and final inning, Hopf doubled and came home on Resnik's third hit of the day, giving RMU a 10-1 lead. The Penguins were unable to answer, and the game was called after five innings due to the run rule.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Hopf had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk and tying her career high in hits. She also scored three times, leading the team in runs. On the year, the sophomore outfielder now has 35 hits, 13 RBI, nine doubles, a triple, six stolen bases, and 25 runs scored.
 
Resnik, Poulich, and Dunlap each drove in two runs, while Matheny led all players with three RBI, thanks to her triple and earlier sacrifice fly. It marked her sixth multi-RBI game of the season. The Connellsville, Pa. native now has 25 hits, 24 RBI, 19 runs, and three home runs in 2024.
 
In the circle, DeVault allowed just one earned run across four innings, earning her eighth win of the year. Kaitlyn Molitoris came in to pitch the fifth and closed the door without allowing a hit or run.
 
RMU outhit Youngstown State 12-5 and played clean defensively, committing no errors while YSU had one. The Colonials left five runners on base, compared to eight for the Penguins.
 
UP NEXT
Up next, RMU returns home to the North Athletic Complex for an eight-game homestand, beginning with a three-game Horizon League series against Detroit Mercy on April 12-13.
 
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