YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The RMU softball team stayed alive in the Horizon League Championship on Thursday afternoon, defeating Detroit Mercy 3-2 behind timely hitting and a strong finish in the circle from
Kaitlyn Molitoris. With the win, the Colonials improve to 29-17 overall and advance to day three of the tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Through the opening three innings, both pitching staffs kept the offenses quiet as neither team could break through. RMU stranded three runners on base during that stretch while the game remained scoreless.
The Colonials finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Aglaia Rudd led the frame off with a solo home run to left center, giving RMU a 1-0 advantage. Later in the inning with two outs,
Sequoia Dunlap launched another solo shot to deep left field to extend the lead to 2-0.
Detroit Mercy answered immediately in the top of the fifth. After putting runners on base, Jada Davis lined a double down the left field line to score two runs and even the game at 2-2.
RMU responded once again in the sixth inning with the eventual game-winning run. Rudd started the inning with a double and moved to third on a fly out.
Alivia Hare then delivered with a single up the middle, bringing Rudd home to put the Colonials back in front, 3-2.
Looking to secure the win in the seventh, Molitoris shut the door. The junior struck out two batters in the inning and retired the Titans to earn the win as RMU advanced with the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- RMU outhit Detroit Mercy, 7-4. The Colonials committed four errors while the Titans finished with two.
- Rudd paced the offense with a 3-for-3 performance, scoring two runs while adding a home run and a double.
- Defensively, Mary Brant recorded four assists from third base.
- Madelyn Coleman earned the start in the circle, tossing 4.1 innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out one batter.
- Molitoris closed the final 2.2 innings, allowing only one hit while striking out three batters.
RUDD'S POSTSEASON TEAR
Junior catcher
Aglaia Rudd has continued her dominant postseason performance, batting 7-for-9 (.778) through RMU's first three tournament games while posting an .818 on-base percentage.
The Greenfield, Ind. native is now hitting .566 this season with 82 hits, 17 doubles, 22 home runs, 59 runs scored, a .600 on-base percentage and a 1.138 slugging percentage.
UP NEXT
RMU will continue play in the Horizon League Championship tomorrow morning, taking on top-seeded Youngstown State at 11:00 AM. The winner will advance to face the loser of the matchup between Green Bay and Northern Kentucky later in the day at 4:00 PM.
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