MOON TOWNSHIP– After dropping two of three, the Colonials looked to improve to above .500 in Horizon League play when they hosted the Youngstown State Penguins for a doubleheader.
These two teams met in the Horizon League tournament last year when the Penguins ended the season for RMU.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first two innings, as a hit was not recorded till Meadow Sacadura ended that with a single in the bottom of the third. Unfortunately for her and Jess Matheny, the Colonials could not capitalize as they would be left on base.
Neither team threatened much until the top of the fifth. That was when hometown kid Macy Litter hit a triple, scoring a run for the Penguins, her eighth of the season. The Penguins could not drive her in from third, making it 1-0.
With only two innings, the Colonials need to bring the offense. Unfortunately for the RMU, they would never find it, as they could not muster a hit. One positive was Kaitlyn Molitoris, who went five innings and only allowed one run. She also had five strikeouts in the loss.
Game two was not much of a different story for the Colonials, as they would see their problems at home plate continue.
During the Penguins’ first at-bat, Sara Fressler hit a home run off Jane Garver to take an early lead. Garver saw out the next couple of innings for the Colonials before being pulled and ending the day with two runs, six hits, and five strikeouts.
The Colonials’ batting struggles continued as well. They scored no runs and only got four hits in the seven innings.
The score remained close all day until the end of the fifth inning, when Sara Fressler again made contact with one of Garver’s pitches, sending Macy Littler home, making the score 2-0 Youngstown.
That would kill it for the Colonials, as while they did get a runner on base, the Penguins’ Sophie Howell would take over for Devan Ryan and retire the next two batters, seeing RMU drop both games against Youngstown.
The Colonials hope to write off today’s performances by redeeming themselves against the Penguins tomorrow, Apr. 10, at home, with the first pitch at 3 p.m.
