MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Colonials completed the series sweep over Green Bay in dominant fashion, earning a 13-5 run-rule victory before rallying for a 7-5 comeback win behind clutch home runs from
Aglaia Rudd and
Eloise Facher in the finale. With the sweep, RMU improves to 15-6 overall and 3-0 in Horizon League play while extending its win streak to eight games.
GAME 1: RMU 13, GB 5 (5 Innings)
Green Bay jumped out early, plating three runs across the first two innings using timely hits and capitalizing on an RMU error.
The Colonials answered emphatically in the third inning, erupting for 10 runs on four home runs to take complete control.
Kaylyn Hopf sparked the rally with a single before Facher launched a two-run homer to cut the deficit to one.
Courtney Poulich followed with an infield single, and
Mary Brant doubled to right to tie the game.
After
Aglaia Rudd singled and stole second,
Sequoia Dunlap crushed a three-run homer to give RMU a 6-3 advantage. The momentum continued as
Alivia Hare added a solo shot, and later in the inning, Poulich blasted a three-run homer to center to extend the lead to 10-3.
In the circle,
Kaitlyn Molitoris took control, striking out three straight batters in the fourth. RMU added insurance in the fourth and fifth innings, including an RBI single from Dunlap and a walk-off RBI double from Rudd to secure the 13-5 run-rule win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- RMU outhit Green Bay, 16-9, led by Rudd's perfect 4-for-4 performance. Dunlap went 3-for-3 with a team-high four RBI, while Poulich drove in three and scored three times.
- Hopf added two walks and two stolen bases.
- Molitoris earned her sixth win of the season, striking out seven over 3.1 innings in relief.
GAME 2: RMU 7, GB 5
After a scoreless opening inning, RMU struck first in the second as Rudd homered to left.
Green Bay responded with three runs in the third, including a two-run homer, to take the lead.
The Colonials evened things up in the fourth behind aggressive baserunning and timely hitting. Dunlap singled and stole second before
Erynn Thompson drove her in. Later in the inning, Facher delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.
The Phoenix regained the lead with two runs in the fifth, setting up another late-game response from RMU.
In the sixth,
Katlyn Jardine worked a leadoff walk and advanced into scoring position. Facher came through again, blasting a game-tying two-run homer to center. Two batters later, Rudd delivered the decisive blow with her second home run of the game, a two-run shot that put RMU ahead for good, 7-5.
Molitoris closed the door in the seventh, striking out two to earn her first save of the season and complete the sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Both teams recorded 10 hits. Rudd led the way with three hits, three RBI, and two runs, while Facher also drove in three runs.
- Jardine drew two of RMU's five walks.
- Madelyn Coleman started in the circle, while Madison Brown provided key relief before Molitoris secured the save.
HOME RUN HITTERS
RMU blasted nine home runs across the three-game series, averaging three per game. Dunlap, Facher, Poulich, and Rudd each recorded two homers and combined for driving in 23 of the team's 30 runs scored.
The Colonials now have 43 home runs through 21 games this season. Poulich leads the team with 12 and now sits just two shy of the program's all-time record with 34 career homers.
DOUBLE DIGITS
RMU reached double figures in scoring twice during the series and has now recorded 12 games this season with 10 or more runs, matching last year's total.
RELENTLESS RUDD
Junior catcher
Aglaia Rudd powered the offense throughout the weekend, tallying a team-high eight hits and six RBI while batting .727 with a .750 on-base percentage. She also recorded her second multi-home run game of the season in the finale and now has 25 RBI on the year.
A FACTOR IN EACH GAME
Kaitlyn Molitoris made an impact in every game of the series, earning two wins and a save. She recorded 14 strikeouts over 8.1 innings and now has 54 strikeouts in 44.2 innings this season.
WIN STREAK
The eight-game win streak marks the 14th time in program history RMU has won at least eight consecutive games. The program record of 17 straight wins was set in 1992.
QUOTABLE – HEAD COACH JEXX VARNER
On the comeback win: "We're blessed because I don't think we're necessarily at a point where we need to have a conversation with our offense. They know the deal and trust themselves. They stay patient in their approach and are ready to get their hits as they know they'll come."
On Rudd's performance: "We love her – she's just phenomenal. She's earned the trust of her teammates to be a captain, and what she does every single day from a leadership standpoint is exactly what we expected. But she's also taken it to another level as a consistent performer and energy source in the dugout."
On the sweep: "I think there's even more to come. Our offense is elite right now, but we still need to grow defensively and in the circle. Green Bay is a very good hitting team, so it was great to start this way. It's nice to be 15-6 with an eight-game winning streak and still have room to grow."
UP NEXT
RMU continues Horizon League play on the road at Oakland in Rochester, Mich. First pitch is set for Friday, March 27 at 3:00 PM, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, March 28 beginning at 12:00 PM.
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | RMU Athletics Gameday App
