Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU softball team opened play in the Tennessee Tech Tournament Friday, falling to Ohio, 8-1, to open the tourney before posting a 12-3 victory over the host Golden Eagles in five innings. In snapping a five-game slide, the Colonials improve to 6-10 (.375) overall during the 2023 campaign.
GAME 1 • L, 1-8 • vs. Ohio
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Bobcats pounced in the first inning, taking advantage of three walks to grab an early 4-0 advantage. Starter
Dana Vatakis struck out the first batter of the contest, but Yasmi Logan walked before moving to second on a wild pitch. Annal Paoli followed with a free pass before Vatakis struck out Alexis Dawe, but Emm Hoffner drew the third walk of the inning to load the bases. Shelby Westler capitalized, tripling down the line in right field to clear the bags. Westler would score the fourth run of the frame on a wild pitch.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
RMU could muster just two hits off Kylie Coffelt, who improved to 4-4 overall from the year from the circle for Ohio (7-11), striking out a pair while walking four. RMU garnered its first hit in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of a double with two outs from senior
Avery Winchell. In the bottom of the sixth the Colonials plated their lone run, as a single from sophomore
Jess Matheny brought home sophomore
Meadow Sacadura, who drew a walk as a pinch hitter with two outs.
GAME 2 • W, 12-3 • @ Tennessee Tech (5)
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Mired in a 10-for-106 (.094) slide over its previous five games, RMU came alive against the Golden Eagles. The Colonials set season highs in runs (12) and RBI (8) while hitting .318 (7-for-22) in picking up their third road win of the year. Sophomore
Alaina Koutsogiani set the tone early, doubling down the line in left to open the game, stealing third and coming home on a fielder's choice from sophomore
Anna Resnik to give RMU an early 1-0 advantage.
BREAKOUT
The Colonials broke down the doors in the fourth, sending 12 hitters to the plate and scoring seven runs to open up an 8-0 cushion. Sacadura opened the frame with a double to left, and she came around to score three batters later on an infield error by Tennessee Tech (1-17). Three consecutive singles from Resnik, Winchell and junior
Charlotte Grover gave RMU an eight-run lead, with Winchell's single bringing home a pair.
ROUND AND ROUND
Each member of the starting lineup posted at least one hit or scored at least one run in the victory as RMU scored four more in the top of the fifth without the aid of a hit. The Colonials took advantage of a throwing error to score the first run of the frame, while Matheny and junior
Catalina Saxen each drew a walk with the bases loaded. Resnik paced the offense, finishing 2-for-4 with a run and a pair of RBI. Koutsogiani finished 1-for-2, scoring three runs, driving in another and walking twice.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The offensive outburst helped sophomore
Madison DeVault even her record during the 2023 campaign to 3-3 from the circle. She allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out five in five innings. The Colonials also stole four bases in the victory, improving to 17-for-19 (89.5%) in the category this season.
UP NEXT
RMU will square off against Ohio and TTU again Saturday to wrap up the Tennessee Tech Tournament. The Colonials and Bobcats get started with an 11:00 a.m. first pitch before RMU and TTU face each other 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 11:00 a.m. contest.
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | RMU Athletics Gameday App
