April 3, 2010

RedStorm softball swept by Lindsey Wilson

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm softball team was swept by Lindsey Wilson College on Saturday afternoon at Stanley Evans Field as the Blue Raiders finished off a four-game series sweep with a 5-0 win in game one and a 2-1 triumph in game two.   

The Rio Grande offense continued to struggle as it managed only two hits in the first game off Lindsey Wilson starter Anyibel Ramirez. For the second day in a row, Ramirez kept the RedStorm bats at bay. She fanned nine batters and did not allow a walk the entire game.

Rio had one legitimate chance to score in the game. Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, senior centerfielder Leah Hamman (Lexington, OH) was hit by a pitch. After being sacrificed to second, she tried to score on a base hit to right field by senior catcher Kaylyn Heading (Hilliard, OH), only to be thrown out at the plate by Megan Huckaby.

Rio's other hit belonged to freshman rightfielder Kaitie Stewart (Pleasant Hill, OH), who doubled. 

Smith (9-11) suffered the loss, despite going the distance. She allowed nine hits and five runs (one earned) with eight strikeouts and three walks. The Rio defense committed five errors in the game. 

Jamie Williams was 3-for-3 to lead Lindsey Wilson (29-8, 15-3 MSC). Jordan Gilland was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Emily Carnes was 2-for-4 and recorded two RBI's. 

Smith pitched the second game for the RedStorm as well and matched Lindsey Wilson starter Morgan Paschal pitch-for-pitch. 

Lindsey Wilson scored first with a run in the fourth inning. Ramirez singled and later scored on a double off the bat of Gilland. 

Rio finally broke through in the sixth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Freshman third baseman Jaymie Rector (Heath, OH) reached base on an infield hit and would score on a well-executed safety squeeze bunt from Mackenzie Rucker (Proctorville, OH). 

Rio Grande (15-15, 7-9 MSC) had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Heading started the frame with a base hit. With the winning run at third base and two outs, LWC brought in Ramirez to face Stewart with the game on the line and Ramirez struck her out on three pitches to send the game to extra innings. 

Lindsey Wilson would score the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth thanks to three key errors that resulted in Alexis Rodgers scoring what turned out to be the deciding run of the game.

Smith pitched extremely well despite being tagged with the loss. She allowed six hits and one earned run in eight innings with one strikeout and one walk. 

Paschal earned a no-decision as she lasted 6 2/3 innings, yielding four hits and one run with five strikeouts and one walk. Ramirez (13-3) picked up the win in relief. She gave up one hit in 1 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.

Rio registered five hits in the second game. Rector was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Stewart was 1-for-3 as was Heading and Rucker.

Rio Grande head coach David Pyles was disappointed that his team wasted two great pitching efforts by Smith. "We couldn't have asked for her throw much better than she threw, really. In the first game we didn't play very good defense behind her and a goose egg shows you're definitely not hitting," Pyles said. "Anna threw real well - we just didn't give her a whole lot of support."

"In the second game we came out with a little more enthusiasm and I thought we played a little better game, but as fate would have it, we just didn't quite get it," Pyles added. 

Rio Grande will step out of conference on Monday for a doubleheader on the road at West Virginia State. Game one is set to begin at 2 p.m.