WARRIORS FINISH UP FASTPITCH DREAMS SPRING CLASSIC; SECURE FIRST WIN OF SEASON

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Warriors completed their annual spring trip with four games to wrap up the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, including a 12-1 victory over Penn State-Scranton for their first win of the season. In the win, RCU scored 12 runs, not allowing a run until the fifth and final inning. 

FIRST GAME VS. PSU-SCRANTON - W, 12-1 - FIVE INNINGS

It was off to the races for RCU for their first win of the season, starting with a run in the bottom of the first thanks to some great baserunning by Jessica Laird, who capitalized on an early error by PSU-Scranton. The Warriors caught fire at-bat in the second inning, beginning with a Leah Salisbury triple to left field. Kaylie Rickert would take advantage of a walk, stealing second base shortly after to put even more pressure on the visitors. Caroline O'Donohue capitalized from there, doubling to left field for two RBI. 

The inning continued to go RCU's way thanks to two consecutive singles by the Warriors, including a scoring run by Emma Hoover. Latham recorded two more RBI shortly after, doubling to center field for runs by Jaya Forti and Laird to put RCU in a 6-0 lead. The momentum continued, with RCU putting up another heater in the third inning. O'Donohue logged another double to start the third, eventually scoring on a passed ball. On the next at-bat, Laird scored an inside-the-park homer. RCU continued to load up the bases with a single by Forti and a double by Latham. 

Salisbury continued to strike gold at-bat, doubling to right field to score the two baserunners. To thank her for her efforts, Chloe Gildea doubled to center to score Salisbury and cap off a 12-0 scoring run by RCU. The Warriors held PSU-Scranton scoreless for another inning before giving up a single run in the top of the fifth. 

SECOND GAME VS. PSU-MT. ALTO - L, 0-7 - SEVEN INNINGS

The Warriors had a tougher outing in the second game of the final two-day stretch, falling to PSU-Mt. Alto 7-0. The Warriors got off to a slow start at-bat, while PSU Mt.-Alto scored seven runs in the first two innings. Forti led the Warriors in hits with three singles. Despite very strong defensive play in the final five innings, the Warriors couldn't get into a rhythm at-bat and catch up. 

THIRD GAME VS. THEIL COLLEGE - L, 6-7 - SEVEN INNINGS

RCU fell in a heartbreaker in their second-to-last game of the trip against Theil College, falling 7-6 after an explosive final three innings. After neither team could score in the first two innings, Theil College got on the board with a run in the top of the third. RCU recovered well, with Payton Parrish and Rachel Winkel getting on base thanks to singles. Laird forced a fielder's choice to score Parrish and help RCU knot things up. 

Theil stormed back in the fifth inning, scoring five runs after gaining batting momentum. RCU recovered some of the lost runs with an RBI single by Winkel, which scored Latham. The Warrior defense clutched up in the sixth and seventh innings, forcing outs and setting up a final chance down 7-2. Hoover helped give the Warriors a shot at a comeback with a triple to center field for three scores with the bases loaded. Following the triple, Laird took her shot with a single to left field to score Hoover. However, the Warriors weren't able to get the last run needed to tie things up and force extra innings. 

FOURTH GAME VS. VERMONT STATE-CASTLETON - L, 0-6 - SEVEN INNINGS

RCU couldn't get things to go on their final day of the Classic, falling to Vermont-State Castleton 6-0. Laird led the Warriors in hitting with two hits, but VSU-Castleton found ways to steadily tack on runs throughout the game to put pressure on RCU.

UP NEXT

The Warriors take on Michigan-Dearborn for their first action in conference play, going on the road for a 1 p.m. start. 

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications