Rio Grande Sports Information
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The University of Rio Grande grabbed an early lead and maintained its advantage the rest of the way, posting an 8-3 game one win over West Virginia University-Tech, Tuesday afternoon, in River States Conference softball action at Little Creek Park.
The host Golden Bears rebounded for a 3-0 triumph in game two to salvage a split of the twin bill.
Rio Grande, which was playing on the road for a third straight day, moved to 19-13 overall and 9-5 in conference play.
The game two loss also dropped the RedStorm behind Point Park University - which swept Rio on Monday in Pittsburgh - in the RSC's East Division standings.
WVU-Tech finished the day at 15-13 overall and 5-5 in the RSC.
In Tuesday's game one victory, Rio jumped to a 3-0 second inning lead and, after Tech scored twice in the bottom of the second, reeled off five unanswered runs before the Bears scored once in the home seventh to set the final score.
Freshman Madison Perry (Portsmouth, OH) and senior Christen Risner (Wheelersburg, OH) both finished 2-for-4 with two runs batted in, while junior Caitlyn Brisker (Oak Hill, OH) was 2-for-5 with a home run.
Junior Lexi Carnahan (Felicity, OH) was also part of the two-hit, one-RBI club for the RedStorm, while sophomores Boo Sturgill (Wheelersburg, OH) and Peyton Young (Mt. Orab, OH) both doubled.
Junior Sydney Campolo (New Lexington, OH) picked up the win in a complete game effort, allowing seven hits and three walks while striking out six.
Emma Crisswell started and took the loss for WVU-Tech, allowing 11 hits and eight runs - six of which were earned as a result of five errors by the Golden Bears - over six-plus innings.
Nicole Kester went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI for Tech, while Olivia Barnett finished 2-for-3 with a double and Hailea Skeens also had a double in the loss.
In game two, Rio Grande was limited to just two hits - singles by Brisker and freshman Gabby Adams (Grove City, OH) - by Tech's Courtney Miles.
Miles also walked just one and struck out eight.
The Golden Bears scored twice in the fourth inning on a double by Macy Wilkens and once in the fifth on a double by Miles.
Kester had three hits in the win, while Barnett added a double.
Sophomore Hannah Beers (Springfield, OH) started and took the loss for Rio, allowing five hits and three runs over four-plus innings.
Rio Grande's week-long road swing resumes on Friday afternoon at Indiana University Southeast, before concluding on Saturday at Brescia University.
