Softball splits doubleheader with Robert Morris

Softball splits doubleheader with Robert Morris

By Giovanni Mio, QBSN Staff Writer

The Quinnipiac softball team split a doubleheader with the Robert Morris Colonials, losing the first game 1-0 and winning the second 3-1 Saturday at the QU softball field.

Robert Morris (29-19, 13-5 NEC) scored the only run of the first game off of a throwing error by the Bobcats’ shortstop Alex Alba (Sylmar, Calif.) in the top of the fourth. That was all the Colonials needed as freshman pitcher Nicole Sleith pitched seven innings of three-hit ball.

The Bobcats (24-15, 10-6 NEC), who have avoided being swept in a doubleheader all season, continued that streak by winning the second game. Quinnipiac trailed 1-0 in the fourth once again, after Colonial senior Jaci Timko hit a home run that bounced off the scoreboard. The Bobcats answered by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning, one that was off a wild pitch.

“I think our team does a very good job of staying in the game,” said head coach Germaine Fairchild.

Schwartzburg pitched both games and gave up no earned runs. She lowers her ERA to 1.54 on the season and has 163 total strikeouts.

“Last week was the first weekend I pitched two games in a day this season,” said Schwartzburg. “I knew I could do it, and coach knows I’ll go until she tells me to stop.”

Quinnipiac faced two left-handed pitchers in Sleith and sophomore Geena Badolato. This was the third time the Bobcats faced a left-handed pitcher all season.

“In the sport of fast pitch softball, if you have a left-handed pitcher, you do have a bit of an advantage,” said Fairchild.

With the two-game set against St. Francis (Pa.) postponed, the next game for the Bobcats is a doubleheader at Hartford on Wednesday.  The first pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.