GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay softball snapped a nine-game losing skid by splitting a doubleheader against Horizon League foe Robert Morris Friday afternoon. The Phoenix dropped the opening game before closing out a tight contest in game two. Friday's matchup was the first time GB has played on their home turf in 2023.
GAME 1 | Robert Morris 6, Green Bay 0
It was a pitcher's duel for the first three frames, with Dana Vatakis (RMU) and Paeton Kringel (GB) tossing a shutout. The Colonials struck for the game's first run in the top of the fourth when Kinsey Ventura stole second, and Charlotte Grover scored on a throwing error by Samantha Saloun. Kringel would hold the Colonials scoreless in the fifth before RMU tallied another run in the sixth inning when Grover smashed an RBI single to left field, bringing in Alaina Koutsogiani.
Despite a sensational effort from Kringel, who racked up 11 strikeouts, Green Bay was charged with three errors, and RMU took advantage in the seventh frame. Avery Winchell drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk before Grover cleared the bases with a double, busting the contest wide open with a four-run fourth.
Green Bay tried to start a two-out rally in the bottom half of the stanza when Tiffany Giese singled, but it wasn't enough in the 6-0 loss.
GAME NOTES
» RMU collected six hits compared to GB's five.
» Kringel's 11 punchouts is a season-high.
» Giese and Randi McKay paced Green Bay's offense with two hits each.
» Vatakis threw seven scoreless innings, collecting five strikeouts.
GAME 2 | Robert Morris 4, Green Bay 5
The Phoenix started fast in the second contest, getting on the board in the first inning after McKay snuck an RBI single past Winchell at first base to make it 1-0. GB extended its lead in the second when Jadin Justman ripped a double to the left-center gap, scoring Giese and Gianna Sanchez. Paige Hanson would ensue with an RBI double, bringing Green Bay's lead to 4-0.
Green Bay was solid in the circle again, with Kelly Greene holding the Colonials to just one run through the first four innings. RMU would begin to piece together a rally in the fifth when Winchell pushed an RBI single up the middle before Grover chopped an RBI single to left field. Meadow Sacadura ensued with a productive at-bat, grounding out to second, but Winchell scored to make it 5-4 in favor of the Phoenix.
Jane Garver, who relieved Madison DeVault for RMU, tossed a scoreless sixth inning, leading to a dramatic seventh inning. Greene began the frame by surrendering a leadoff walk to Winchell. Grover lifted a fly ball to right field for the first out before Winchell stole second, putting the tying run in scoring position. Greene struck out Sacadura swinging and put the finishing touches on the contest by getting Ventura to ground out, avenging the game one loss with a 5-4 victory in game two.
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay never trailed en route to victory.
» Robert Morris out-hit Green Bay 8-4.
» All four of GB's hits came from different players (Giese, Justman, Hanson, and McKay).
» Greene garnered her second win of the season, improving to 2-4.
» Giese stole two bases in the game and three total on the day, staying a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases.
» The Colonials left eight on base compared to GB's six.
COMING UP
The Phoenix will host Robert Morris tomorrow to conclude the three-game series before heading to Madison to face Wisconsin in a doubleheader on March 28.
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