SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The RMU softball team split its pair of games on day one of the Spartan Classic/Sparkle City Invite Friday afternoon. The Colonials opened the day with a dominant 12-0 run-rule victory over Morgan State before falling to host Wofford, 15-7, in five innings. RMU now sits at 3-3 overall to begin the 2026 campaign.
GAME 1: RMU 12, Morgan State 0 (5 Innings)
Junior pitcher
Kaitlyn Molitoris delivered a historic performance in the circle, while the Colonials' offense continued its early season power surge.
Molitoris set the tone immediately, striking out two batters in the opening frame. The offense quickly followed her lead in the bottom half.
After
Sequoia Dunlap reached on a fielder's choice and
Courtney Poulich drew a walk, junior catcher
Aglaia Rudd drove both runners in with a single to right center, giving RMU a 2-0 advantage.
The Colonials broke the game open in the second inning.
Erynn Thompson singled and advanced on a wild pitch before Dunlap earned a walk. Poulich then launched a three-run home run to right center, extending the lead to 5-0.
In the third inning,
Eloise Facher recorded her first triple of the season, and Rudd continued her strong day at the plate by driving her in with a single to right field.
RMU added five more runs in the fourth inning. Poulich was hit by a pitch,
Mary Brant drew a walk, and Facher delivered an RBI single to make it 7-0.
Camryn Harbold later earned her first career RBI after drawing a bases-loaded walk, followed by a wild pitch that scored another run.
Makayla Jardine capped the inning with a three-run home run down the left field line, pushing the Colonials' lead to 12-0.
Molitoris finished the job in dominant fashion, striking out two more batters and retiring the side to secure the run-rule victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- RMU outhit Morgan State, 7-2, and drew nine walks compared to just two by the Bears.
- Facher and Rudd each recorded two hits, while Brant and Katlyn Hopf led the team with two walks apiece.
- Poulich scored three runs, while Poulich, Rudd, and M. Jardine each drove in three runs.
GAME 2: Wofford 15, RMU 7 (5 Innings)
Wofford struck first with a two-run home run in the opening inning. RMU responded in the second as Rudd blasted her team-leading fifth home run of the season, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Terriers added another run in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead, but the Colonials answered with a strong offensive surge in the third inning.
Hopf singled and Dunlap walked to set the stage for Poulich, who delivered a three-run home run to deep right field, giving RMU its first lead of the game at 4-3.
The Colonials continued to build momentum. Brant doubled, and Facher followed with an RBI single up the middle to extend the lead to 5-3.
However, Wofford responded with a decisive eight-run inning in the bottom of the third to reclaim control at 11-5.
Facher continued her impressive day in the fifth inning, hitting her first career home run with a solo shot to center field. Later in the inning, Rudd and
Katlyn Jardine recorded back-to-back doubles, with Jardine driving in Rudd to cut the deficit to 11-7.
The Terriers sealed the win with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure the 15-7 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Wofford outhit RMU, 13-10, while both teams left four runners on base.
- Poulich recorded a team-high three RBI for the second straight game.
- Facher, Rudd, and Jardine each posted two hits.
- Madelyn Coleman started in the circle, striking out three across 2.1 innings.
- Sammie Borrayo recorded one out in relief, while Madison Brown finished the game with 1.2 innings and allowed zero earned runs.
CAREER HIGH
Molitoris recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts against Morgan State, striking out 12 of the 15 batters she faced in the five-inning performance. The victory marked her 11th career win and raised her career strikeout total to 81.
Makayla Jardine also delivered a career performance, hitting her second career home run and finishing with a career-high three RBI. She remains perfect at the plate this season at 3-for-3.
COLONIAL FIRSTS
Harbold recorded her first career RBI on a bases-loaded walk and has now drawn two walks and scored two runs this season.
Sophomore
Madison Brown made her collegiate debut in the circle, pitching 1.2 innings while allowing no earned runs.
Facher hit her first career home run and continues to shine offensively, batting .471 with eight hits and four RBI this season.
BIG BATS CONTINUE TO PRODUCE
Poulich recorded three RBI for the third time this season and now has 10 RBI and a team-leading 11 runs scored.
Rudd crushed her fifth home run of the season and is tied with Poulich for the team lead with 10 RBI. The Greenfield, Ind. native currently ranks third nationally in slugging percentage (1.563) and is tied for fifth in home runs.
Behind the power of Rudd and Poulich, RMU has hit 13 home runs through its first six games, averaging more than two per game.
QUOTABLE – HEAD COACH JEXX VARNER
On Game One: "It was an awesome outing for Molitoris. She did a great job of pounding the zone and challenging their hitters. The offense did what they needed to do and is really humming.
Makayla Jardine is doing a phenomenal job in her role right now and that home run was big to give us even more space."
On Game Two: "We ran into a really hot team but absolutely need to be better on defense and in the circle. Rudd continues to be lights out. It was also great to see Hopf get her 100th career hit and she found a great approach today that makes her such a great lead-off hitter. Ellie getting her first collegiate home run was great and she continues to grow and show what she's capable of every day. And Courtney is doing Courtney things – really proud of her discipline."
UP NEXT
The Colonials will continue play at the Spartan Classic/Sparkle City Invite on Saturday, February 21, facing Morgan State at 11:00 AM before taking on USC Upstate at 1:30 PM. Live stats will be available for both games.
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