MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Returning to local competition, the Colonials are set to play a single non-conference game at Pitt on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:00 PM. Live stats will be available.
 
RMU LATELY
RMU (7-6) is coming off a 2-2 record at the Catamount Classic in Cullowhee, N.C., hosted by Western Carolina. At the tournament, the Colonials picked up an 18-10 win against WCU and defeated Penn, 9-7, in eight innings. Overall, RMU scored 38 runs across the four games.
 
Freshman outfielder Alivia Hare had a breakout weekend, hitting the first two home runs of her collegiate career while driving in eight RBI. Sophomore Mary Brant also hit two home runs and recorded seven RBI, including a career-high six RBI performance in one game. In the circle, Madison Brown picked up two wins during the tournament.
 
Through 13 games, junior catcher Aglaia Rudd paces the Colonials in batting average (.561), slugging percentage (1.073), on-base percentage (.558) and hits (23). Redshirt senior Courtney Poulich has already amassed 24 runs scored along with a team-leading six home runs and 19 RBI. Junior outfielder Eloise Facher also has 19 RBI and a team-high two triples.
 
In the circle, Brown owns a 3.00 ERA. She, Sammie Borrayo and Kaitlyn Molitoris each have two wins, while Molitoris leads the staff in strikeouts with 27 in 24.1 innings pitched.
 
NCAA LEADERS
Rudd is currently tied for first in the nation as the toughest player to strike out, as she has not struck out once in her 41 at-bats. She also ranks fifth in the country in batting average (.561) and 13th in slugging percentage (1.073).
 
Poulich remains the nation's leader in runs scored per game, averaging 1.85 per contest. She and Facher both rank 11th in RBI per game (1.46). Katlyn Jardine has also been one of the country's most patient hitters at the plate, ranking fifth in walks per game (1.00).
 
As a team, RMU's offense remains one of the most productive in the NCAA. The Colonials rank fifth in runs per game (10.0), sixth in slugging percentage (.680), seventh in batting average (.382), seventh in on-base percentage (.478) and seventh in home runs per game (1.92).
 
ALL-TIME VS. PITT
Dating back to 1998, RMU is 18-24-1 all-time against Pitt. Last season, the Colonials earned a 7-1 victory over the Panthers. Shortstop Sequoia Dunlap recorded a career-best performance with two home runs and four RBI in the game. Brant also hit a home run as RMU outhit Pitt, 8-3. RMU alum Madison DeVault pitched a complete game, striking out five batters.
 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Pitt enters the week with a 13-9 overall record and an 0-3 mark in ACC play after being swept by #19 Stanford.
 
Offensively, graduate infielder Tieley Vaughn leads the Panthers in batting average (.375), on-base percentage (.506), runs scored (22), walks (16) and hits (24). Graduate catcher KK Esparza has been the team's top power hitter with five home runs and 19 RBI, along with a .698 slugging percentage.
 
In the circle, sophomore left-hander Bekah Duck leads the staff with a 2.31 ERA. Graduate Kyra Pittman has a team-high four wins, while sophomore Gwen Sparks has recorded 30 strikeouts this season.
 
COMMON OPPONENTS
Pitt is also set to play Ohio this season, as well as Horizon League member Youngstown State.
 
UP NEXT
RMU will play a home-and-home series against Mercyhurst with doubleheaders at both sites. The Colonials' home opener is set for Saturday, March 14, with the first game beginning at 1:00 PM. RMU will then travel to Erie to face Mercyhurst in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM on Sunday, March 15.
 
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