RedStorm closes opening weekend with another split

Rio Grande Sports Information
     WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - The University of Rio Grande spotted Cleary (Mich.) University an early three-run lead before exploding for 11 unanswered runs en route to a mercy rule-shortened 11-3 win as part of the Bear Creek Classic hosted by the University of the Cumberlands, Sunday morning, at the UC Softball Complex.
     The RedStorm suffered a 4-2 loss at the hands of the host Patriots later in the day and finished their season-opening weekend at 2-2.
     In Sunday's opener, Cleary grabbed a 3-0 second lead before Rio began its road back in the bottom of the frame with a run-scoring double by freshman Madison Perry (Portsmouth, OH).
     The bulk of the rally came in the fourth inning, though, when the RedStorm pushed across eight runs.
     Sophomore Alexandria "Boo" Sturgill (Wheelersburg, OH) had a run-scoring single, senior Christen Risner (Wheelersburg, OH) plated two runs with a single of her own, junior Caitylyn Brisker (Oak Hill, OH) had an RBI double and junior Lexi Carnahan (Felicity, OH) capped the rally with a two-run triple.
     A throwing error and a wild pitch in the fifth inning allowed the victory-clinching runs to cross.
     Risner and Perry both finished with two hits and two runs batted in, while Sturgill was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
     Sophomore Hannah Beers (Springfield, OH) earned the win in relief, allowing just two hits and striking out three over three shutout innings.
     Caitlynn Duffey started and took the loss for Cleary after allowing eight hits and as many runs over 3-1/3 innings.
     Duffey had a double at the plate, while Sarah Cassidy and Mia Rzepka each drove in a run for the Cougars.
     In the second game against Cumberlands, the Patriots hit a pair of home runs to grab an early lead and then held on late.
     Makenzie Keatts hit a two-run first inning homer and Mackenzie Pawlak added a solo shot in the second to push the UC lead to 3-0.
     Rio Grande closed the gap to 3-2 in the fourth inning thanks to run-scoring hits by Brisker and Carnahan, but the Patriots got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Pawlak which set the final score.
     Pawlak and Carly Oliver finished with two hits apiece for Cumberlands, while Katie White earned her fourth win in five decisions with four innings of three-hit shutout relief.
     Junior Sydney Campolo (New Lexington, OH) went the distance in the circle for Rio, allowing six hits and a pair of walks with four strikeouts.
     Freshman Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) had a double for the RedStorm, which was limited to only five hits.
     Rio Grande returns to action next weekend with a four-game road trip to Georgia, facing Brenau University on Friday and Truett-McConnell University on Saturday.