Rio Grande Sports Information
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio - University of Rio Grande juniors Sydney Campolo and Kali Brickman authored solid performances in the pitcher's circle, while Boo Sturgill hit home runs in each game to help the RedStorm pull away for a sweep of host Ohio Christian University, Friday afternoon, in a River States Conference softball doubleheader at the OCU Softball Complex.
Rio posted an 11-1 mercy rule-shortened win in the opener and a 4-0 triumph in the nightcap, pushing its winning streak to five straight and its season record to 24-14 overall and 14-6 in the RSC.
Ohio Christian slipped to 17-15 overall and 7-9 against league foes.
Campolo, a native of New Lexington, Ohio, scattered four hits and three walks over six innings for her 12th win of the year in game one.
The RedStorm carried a scant 1-0 lead into the fourth inning before exploding for five runs - three of which scored on a Sturgill homer - to provide plenty of breathing room.
Another five-run uprising in the top of the sixth inning helped to invoke the eight-run mercy rule.
Freshman Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) finished 3-for-4 with a triple, a double and three RBI in the winning effort, while fellow frosh Lexi Thompson (Shelby, OH) was 3-for-3 with a run batted in.
Junior Caitlyn Brisker (Oak Hill, OH), the reigning RSC Player of the Week, had two hits and a drove in a run, while freshman Gabby Adams (Grove City, OH) had a double and an RBI and freshman Madison Perry (Portsmouth, OH) added a double of her own.
Marissa Bardanaro hit a fourth inning solo home run for Ohio Christian, while Kristin Gardner had a double.
Gardner also started and took the loss in the circle for the Trailblazers, allowing 12 hits and eight earned runs in a complete game effort.
In game two, Brickman blanked OCU on just two hits for her eighth straight winning decision.
The Huber Heights, Ohio right-hander walked only one and struck out three.
Rio Grande grabbed a 2-0 first inning lead thanks to a bases-loaded walk to Perry and a sacrifice fly by sophomore Peyton Young (Mt. Orab, OH).
That same lead held up until Sturgill, a sophomore from Wheelersburg, Ohio, cracked a fifth inning home run to double the advantage.
Sturgill and Sedgwick both finished 2-for-4 in the win, while Thompson had two hits of her own.
Lexi King doubled for one of the two OCU hits.
Emma Hastings went the distance in the circle for the Trailblazers, allowing 10 hits and three walks.
Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action on Saturday when it hosts Point Park University for another RSC twin bill at Rio Softball Park.
First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m.
