Arm, bat do damage
SLIPPERY ROCK — Morgan Robinson's pitching prowess is well known around District 10, but she also is making a name for herself at the plate.
The Slippery Rock senior tallied four of the Rockets' 13 hits in a 14-5 region win over Hickory Tuesday. That total included three singles and a double, 2 RBI and a run scored.
Robinson also earned the win, striking out 11 and walking two in a complete game.
Robinson said she made a point during the offseason to focus on becoming a better hitter. She now is one of the Rockets' best at the plate, with many of her hits going for extra bases.
"I've worked really hard with my hitting coach, trying to become a better player for my team on offense," Robinson said. "To see the results of the work I put in, to be able to help the team out that way, it's been great."
Rockets coach Zoe McDowell was impressed with the attitude Robinson carried into the 2010 campaign.
"She came up to me before the season and said, 'Coach, I've been working on my hitting.'
"She felt like she wasn't in the right place with her hitting last year," McDowell added. "She gets work in at the batting cages and that's all on her own. She's very self-motivated and has been very calm at the plate this year."
The Rockets took the first step toward a key region win in the first inning Tuesday.
After Robinson gave up an unearned run in the top of the first, Slippery Rock (6-5, 5-2) sent 14 batters to the plate.
Robinson went 2-for-2 in the frame with a run-scoring single and a double to left center that scored a run. Shawna Peace tallied the Rockets' other base hit in the inning, but most of the damage was done on seemingly innocent plays.
Hickory starting pitcher Lindsey Ranelli struck out four batters in the inning, but two of them reached base on passed balls.
Back-to-back fielding errors by the Hornets (3-7, 2-5) led to six more runs before Ranelli was able to get out of the inning on the short end of a 9-1 score.
"She's a senior, but it's her first year as a pitcher," Hickory coach Tony Rock said. "The passed balls didn't help us, and the errors were our first in three games. We got a little rattled in that first inning, but I thought, overall, Lindsey pitched well."
Alyssa Newcomb had a strong game for Slippery Rock with a single, double, two runs scored and two RBI.
Hickory 101 030 0 — 5 9 4Slippery Rock 900 230 x — 14 13 3W: Morgan Robinson 7 IP (11 K, 2 BB).
L: Lindsey Ranelli 6 IP (7 K, 4 BB).
Hickory (3-7, 2-5): Liz Palumbo 2-1B R, Jasmine Boulware 2B HR, Taylor Trimboli 3-1B R, Miranda Ranelli 1B, Alexis McBride 1B R RBI, Camilyn Clemenza R
Slippery Rock (6-5, 5-2): Gara Mauthe 1B R, Shawna Peace 1B 2R 2 RBI, Morgan Robinson 3-1B 2B R 2 RBI, Kalene Ireland 2-1B R RBI, Laia Mortimer 2-1B 2R, Kara Kerr 1B 3R, Alyssa Newcomb 1B 2B 2R 2 RBI, Courtney Bell R 2 RBI, Erica Umstead R RBI
Thursday: Jamestown at Slippery Rock
