Washington, Pa. - The Robert Morris University softball team took part in the Bound 4 Beijing Tour Thursday night with an exhibition game against USA Softball at Consol Energy Park, home of the Washington Wild Things, with the USA Softball Team garnering a 16-0 win in six innings over the Colonials.

Thanks to the victory USA Softball improved to 27-1 on its tour gearing up for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The game was played in front of a sellout, standing-room only crowd of 4,132.  

"To have an opportunity like this is something that our players are going remember forever," head coach Craig Coleman said. "USA Softball is as good as advertised, and they'll represent our country and the sport of softball well in Beijing. They're a well-coached, fundamentally sound squad. Our players couldn't have been happier to take part in something like this." 

USA Softball scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, added six more in the second and plated three more runs in the bottom of the third. Each of the first four batters reached base, with the rally capped by a three-run home run down the left field line from third baseman Crystl Bustos off RMU starter Brenna Reed (Carnegie, Pa. / Montour). 

Six more runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the second for USA Softball, as outfielder Jessica Mendoza hit a grand slam, while designated player Kelly Kretschman added a two-run home run. USA Softball starter Jennie Finch didn't allow a hit in her three innings of work, striking out six.

Robert Morris got its first hit in the top of the fourth inning off Monica Abbott. Junior Lauren Nisivoccia (Nutley, N.J. / Mount St. Dominic) hit a bunt single to lead off the inning before junior Brooke Panepinto (Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon) laced a single to left field.

Abbott settled down, getting sophomore Megan Lynch (Allison Park, Pa. / Shaler) to pop out to shortstop before striking out junior Susan Perich (Center, Pa. / Center) and freshman Stacy Yusko (Portage, Pa. / Penn Cambria).

Freshman Lindsey Moates (Ocala, Fla. / Forest), who relieved Reed, set USA Softball down in order in the bottom of the fourth inning. She got Kretschman to ground out to third and Lovieanne Jung to fly out to right field before retiring the side by inducing a ground out to shortstop of Laura Berg. Moates and Reed each struck out one in the contest, with Reed setting down Kretschman in the first inning and Moates getting Bustos to reach for strike three in the third inning. 

USA Softball added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, with the big hit coming courtesy of Jenny Topping, who drove home a pair with a double to left center. Mendoza had a perfect night for USA, finishing 3-for-3 with three runs, seven RBI, a triple and a home run. Freshman Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) pitched the bottom of the fifth for RMU, allowing just one earned run on three hits.

Robert Morris now gears up for the 2008 Northeast Conference Tournament, which will be held Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, on the campus of Long Island University in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Colonials enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed and will face either Saint Francis (Pa.) or Monmouth in their opening game. The Red Flash and Hawks have a rescheduled doubleheader set for Saturday, May 3.