RMU Colonials Softball Team Excels in Classroom, Too

For the third time in the past four years, the Robert Morris University softball team posted the highest grade-point average among Division I college softball programs, according to figures recently released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Robert Morris posted a 3.609 GPA during the 2011-12 academic year, which was not only the top mark in Division I but across all of the college subdivisions that the NFCA recognizes.

“This is a great tribute to our kids and the efforts that they put into their work in the classroom and on the field,” said Robert Morris Head Coach and Athletic Director Craig Coleman. “The support of our faculty is key to helping our kids succeed in the classroom.”

Robert Morris earned the top GPA in Division I for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. RMU finished third in the country last year and is actually the only Division I school in the country to rank among the top five programs in each of the past four years. The Colonials have had a team GPA of at least 3.55 in each of the past four seasons.

At the conclusion of the spring 2012 semester, every one of the 18 Colonials on the squad had an individual cumulative GPA in excess of 3.0, and 10 of them had a cumulative GPA of at least 3.60. RMU softball student-athletes represented 12 undergraduate majors, including two double majors on the team—Geena Badolato (Mt. Lebanon) and Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio) – and one pursuing a graduate degree.

The Colonials combined to produce 13 semester averages in the fall or spring that exceeded 3.8, including eight averages that were a perfect 4.0, by five different Colonials:  Badolato, Alexa Bryson (Latrobe Area), Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del.), Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa.) and Maritza Jimenez (Vineland, N.J.).

On the field, RMU registered a program-record 35 wins in 2012, including a 15-5 mark in Northeast Conference play, to claim first place in the conference for the second-consecutive season.

The Colonials also broke the school record for road wins (14), led the league in earned run average (1.84) and ranked second in runs scored (102) during NEC play.

Coleman earned his fourth NEC Coach of the Year award as he guided a pair of freshmen, Samantha Santillo (Ellwood City) and Nicole Sleith (Smithton), to major NEC honors as the duo took home the league’s Golden Glove Award and Pitcher of the Year honors, respectively.