Written by: Zack West

The Lady Zips softball team split a doubleheader against Robert Morris (26-18) on Tuesday, winning game one 6-0 and dropping game two 8-2.

In game one, Brittany Mauer (13-18) pitched a complete, one-hit shutout game with just one walk along with seven strikeouts. Only three Colonials reached base in the game, while Mauer retired nine of her first 10 batters.

The Zips (15-24-1, 1-9 MAC) jumped to an early 1-0 lead in game one. In the top of the second, Taryn Allmon brought in the first run on a groundout with one out.

UA threatened to extend their lead in the top of the fourth when Alex Helfrich reached base on a bunt.  She was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and later stole third, but was stranded to end the inning.

The Colonials went to tie the game with a runner on third with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but Mauer forced a groundout to end the inning.

Crystal Hernandez extended the lead in the top of the fifth with a single that brought in two Zips. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Alissa Birkhimer brought in two more runs with a two-RBI single to make the score 5-0 after five.

Akron brought in another run in the top of the seventh to go up 6-0 for good. Birkhimer led the Zips from the plate with a 2-3 performance that produced two RBIs.

In game two, the Zips went down early to a 4-0 Colonial lead in the bottom of the second. RMU increased their lead in the bottom of the fourth by producing three more runs to make the mark 7-0.

Hernandez put the Zips on the board in the top of the fifth with her second home run of the season with one out. In the bottom of the sixth, the Colonials would get the run back to make the score 8-1 after six.

The Zips attempted a late comeback when their first two batters reached base. Cassie Gleisner would fly out for the first out of the inning and Kellie Roudabush would get caught in a run down for the second out. Amanda Ricker eventually scored on an error, but the Zips dropped the game 8-2.

UA will return home over the weekend to take on two Mid-American Conference rivals. Defending MAC champion Western Michigan visits Friday for a doubleheader.  The first pitch starts is at 1 p.m.  On Saturday and Sunday, Northern Illinois will come to town for a pair of games.