Clearwater, Fla. - On Friday afternoon, the Robert Morris University softball team got the 2010 season underway as the squad made its second appearance in the USF Under Armour Tournament. The Colonials dropped a 7-6 decision to Florida International in their first game, while Central Michigan edged RMU, 5-4, in an extra inning affair later in the evening.
Game One - FIU vs. Robert Morris
In game one against Florida International, FIU put one on the board in the top of the second. However, RMU quickly answered with Sarah Capp's (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour) RBI single to knot the game at one.
The Golden Panthers then added two in the top of the third, and an additional run in both the fourth and fifth frames to a hold a 5-1 advantage going into the sixth.
Robert Morris then put the score at 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth, as freshman Maritza Jimenez (Vineland, NJ / Vineland) and junior Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) notched back-to-back RBI doubles.
But FIU got both scores back in the top of the seventh to regain a 7-3 lead.
The Colonials came out swinging in the bottom of the seventh, recording five hits and three runs to cut FIU's lead to one at 7-6. However FIU pitcher Kasey Barett came in to close out the win for the Golden Panthers as she struck out the last Colonial standing for a, 7-6, FIU victory.
Sophomore Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) picked up her first loss of the season in her opening appearance.
Game 2 - Robert Morris vs. Central Michigan
After a disappointing one-run loss in game one, Dubovec entered the circle as the Colonials held Central Michigan to just one run in the first six innings. Down 1-0 going into the final frame, RMU took advantage of sloppy play and three errors by the Chippewas to take a 3-1 lead into the bottom half of the seventh.
CMU then used a double and a single to send the game into extra innings with the contest tied at three apiece.
In the top of the eighth, shortstop Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del. / St. Mark's) drove in senior Megan Picinic (Cliffside, NJ / Immaculate Heart) to take a 4-3 lead. But the Chippewa's would snatch victory away from the Colonials as they posted two runs in the bottom half of the eighth to defeat RMU, 5-4.
Robert Morris (0-2 ; 0-0 NEC) will continue tournament play in Clearwater tomorrow when the squad takes on Boston University at 10:30 a.m. and the University of Toledo at 3:00 p.m.
