Hackensack, NJ -  On the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson, the Robert Morris University softball team took to the diamond in an elimination game against Monmouth in the 2010 Northeast Conference Championships. 

After sending home #3 Quinnipiac yesterday, the Colonials attempted to sneak past the #2 Hawks in the Saturday morning affair.  However, a three-run fifth inning put Monmouth on top to end RMU's championship hopes with the, 5-4, setback.

The Colonials jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning as Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa.  / Chartiers-Houston) opened the contest with a triple to right center.  She then scored on a wild pitch.

Monmouth picked up a pair of their own with a two-run homer to take a 2-1 advantage.

Robert Morris quickly answered in the top of the third as the squad tallied three-runs off three-hits and two MU errors.  Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) opened the frame with a single to right and touched home when a Hawk error sent in two RMU runs.  Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) and Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio  / Kenston) also picked up hits in the third.

Ahead 4-2, the Colonials held Monmouth scoreless in the fourth, however the Hawks rallied back to record three tallies in the fifth and sneak past Robert Morris, 5-4.

With the loss, sophomore Alexa Bryson (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) closes out her second campaign with a 20-11 record, becoming the fourth Colonial pitcher to reach 20 wins in a season.  She struck out 10 batters, allowed six hits and did not issue a single walk.

The Colonials, who finished fourth in the NEC regular season, conclude 2010 with an overall record of 28-20 and 13-6 in NEC play.