YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The RMU softball team put on an offensive display Friday afternoon, defeating top-seeded Youngstown State 14-2 in five innings at the #HLSB Championship. With the victory, the Colonials improved to 30-17 overall and advanced to the tournament semifinal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After both teams stranded two runners in the opening inning, RMU broke through in the second.
Alivia Hare started the inning with a leadoff double before
Marta Gualazzi was hit by a pitch.
Kaylyn Hopf then singled to load the bases for the Colonials.
Eloise Facher opened the scoring with an RBI single through the left side before
Courtney Poulich delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon, blasting a grand slam to deep left field on a 1-2 count to put RMU ahead 5-0.
Youngstown State answered in the bottom half of the inning when Selah Moyer connected on a two-run homer, but the Penguins would not score again.
The Colonials added to their lead in the third inning.
Sequoia Dunlap singled to begin the frame before
Erynn Thompson and Gualazzi both reached on an error to load the bases. Hopf followed with an RBI single, while Facher drove in another run on a fielder's choice to extend the advantage to 7-2. Poulich capped the inning with a two-run double into right center, giving RMU a commanding 9-2 lead.
Hare added a solo home run in the fourth inning, and RMU continued to pour it on in the fifth. Poulich and
Aglaia Rudd both singled before Hare reached on an error to load the bases. With two outs, Dunlap ripped a two-run single into right field, and Thompson followed with a two-run single up the middle to make it 14-2.
Kaitlyn Molitoris retired the side in the fifth inning to secure the run-rule victory for the Colonials.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- RMU outhit Youngstown State, 17-5, while the Penguins committed five errors.
- Poulich led the offense with a perfect 4-for-4 performance and a team-high six RBIs.
- Hare scored three runs, while Facher, Dunlap and Thompson each drove in two runs.
- Facher also added a stolen base.
- Madelyn Coleman earned her 10th win of the season after allowing two runs and striking out two over three innings of work.
- Molitoris tossed the final two innings, allowing just one hit and no runs.
POULICH POWERS RMU
Poulich's grand slam marked her sixth career postseason home run and the 47th homer of her career. Her six-RBI performance was the ninth game of her career with at least five RBIs.
30-WIN SEASON
RMU reached the 30-win mark for the second consecutive season and for the 10th time in program history. It also marks the third 30-win season under head coach
Jexx Varner.
UP NEXT
Due to weather conditions, RMU's semifinal matchup against Green Bay was postponed and will now be played Saturday morning at 11:00 AM in Youngstown, Ohio.
The winner will advance to face Northern Kentucky in the #HLSB Championship game at 1:30 PM. Both games will stream live on ESPN+.
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