April 19, 2010

RedStorm finish off sweep of St. Catharine

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm softball team finished off a four-game series sweep of St. Catharine, winning both games of a twinbill on Saturday. Rio won the first game 7-0 and captured game two 10-4, putting the game away with a five-run seventh inning.

Rio Grande (26-18, 15-11 MSC) has won eight in a row and 11 of its last 13 games. 

The RedStorm grabbed the lead early in the first game and were never headed. Freshman leftfielder Kaitie Stewart (Pleasant Hill, OH) started the scoring with a three-run home run in the opening inning. Stewart would add a two-run single in the sixth inning to end the game with a career-high five RBI's.

Senior catcher Kaylyn Heading (Hilliard, OH) closed out the scoring with a two-run double in the seventh. Heading had two hits in the game. Junior first baseman Chelsie Brooks (North Lewisburg, OH) was 2-for-3 while freshman third baseman Jaymie Rector (Heath, OH) was 1-for-2.

Senior centerfielder Leah Hamman (Lexington, OH) and junior shortstop Amber Bowman (Hebron, OH) were both 1-for-4 with a run scored. 

Sophomore hurler Anna Smith (Ross, OH) was masterful as she fired a one-hitter at the Patriots (14-32, 6-16 MSC). Smith (14-13) fanned 11 batters and did not allow a walk in seven innings. 

Ashley Hardin took the loss in game one for St. Catharine. She was roughed up by the Rio offense, yielding 10 hits and seven runs in seven innings with five strikeouts and one walk. 

Game two was a back-and-forth affair with Rio Grande putting the game away in the seventh inning on the strength of a five-run frame in which all the activity occurred with two outs.

With Rio leading 5-4, freshman second baseman Katie Fuller (Hamilton, OH) reached base on a passed ball after striking out to keep the inning alive. Rio followed with four consecutive singles to blow the game open. After an error, Heading collected the fifth hit of the inning to close out the scoring. 

Rio Grande tallied 18 hits in the second game triumph. The top of the batting order was lethal for Rio Grande as Hamman, Bowman and Heading all notched three hits each. Hamman had three RBI's while Bowman and Heading had one each.

Brooks added three hits wiith two doubles while freshman rightfielder Jessica Gall (Mount Vernon, OH) was 1-for-3 with two RBI's. Stewart and sophomore pitcher Allison Mills (West Chester, OH) also recorded RBI hits. Sophomore Nicole Sargent (Pataskala, OH) was 1-for-1 and Rector went 1-for-4 with a run scored.  Smith was 1-for-1 with a double and two runs scored.

Mills (12-4) started the game and went five innings, but was around long enough to pick up the win.  Smith picked up her first save of the season, firing two innings, allowing one hit and one unearned run. 

Amber Matteoli took the loss in relief for St. Catharine.

"The second game was a little closer than the score indicated," said Rio Grande head coach David Pyles. "We scored several runs late that kind of opened things up."

"The first game, we hit real well, hit early, Kaitie Stewart had a real big day with five RBI's, a three-run homer in the first inning that kind of opened things up early for us," Pyles added. "We got really good pitching all weekend from Anna and Allison."

"Overall, it was good performance, to go that far from home, to get off the bus, stay overnight and play that well for four games - that's what we need to do here in a couple of weeks," he said. 

Rio Grande will step out of conference on Tuesday with a doubleheader versus former American Mideast Conference foe Cedarville at home. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Stretch Internet will have play-by-play coverage beginning at 2:55 p.m.