Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The University of Rio Grande spotted West Virginia University-Tech a first inning lead before roaring from behind to post a 7-3 game one victory over the Golden Bears in River States Conference softball action, Tuesday afternoon, at Rio Softball Park.
Tech used a late game rally of its own in the nightcap to earn a 7-2 win and a split of the twin bill.
Rio Grande finished the day at 30-16 overall and 18-8 in conference play.
WVU-Tech, which also split with the RedStorm earlier this month, moved to 20-24 overall and 10-16 in the RSC.
In game one, the Golden Bears grabbed a first inning lead on a two-run single by Scarlet Janney, but Rio grabbed the lead for good by scoring four times in the fourth inning.
Sophomores Peyton Young (Mt. Orab, OH) and Boo Sturgill (Wheelersburg, OH) each had RBI doubles in the frame, while senior Christen Risner (Wheelersburg, OH) had a run-scoring single.
The RedStorm extended its lead to 7-2 in the fifth inning thanks to a run-scoring single by junior Lexi Carnahan (Felicity, OH) and a two-run single by freshman Lexi Thompson (Shelby, OH).
WVU-Tech got an RBI single by Morgan Richards in the sixth inning to set the final score.
Young and Sturgill both finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run batted in for Rio, while Thompson had two RBI.
Junior Sydney Campolo (New Lexington, OH) went the distance in the circle for the RedStorm, allowing seven hits, three walks and the three runs. She also struck out seven.
Emma Crisswell, the second of three hurlers for WVU-Tech, took the loss after allowing four hits, three walks and six runs over two-plus innings.
Nicole Kester had two hits, including a double, for the Golden Bears, while Hailea Skeens also went 2-for-4 and Janney had two RBI.
Tech also enjoyed a 2-0 lead in game two after scoring single markers in both the second and third innings, but Rio Grande tied the game with two runs in the fourth inning after consecutive RBI doubles by freshmen Gabby Adams (Grove City, OH) and Madison Perry (Portsmouth, OH).
But as soon as the RedStorm rallied to tie the game, the Golden Bears blew things open with five runs in the fifth inning.
Gabby Pyles reached on an error to begin the inning and, one out later, advanced to third when Kester singled and took second on the throw home.
One out later, Courtney Miles - who drove in the Bears' third inning run - singled home both runners to make it 4-2.
Macy Wilkens followed with a single that moved Miles to third and a subsequent double-steal - Wilkens of second and Miles of home - pushed the lead to 5-2.
Janney singled home Wilkens before Kyleigh Jackson singled and, after a pitching change, Richards singled home Janney to make it 7-2.
Miles finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Janney was 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in.
Kester and Richards also had two hits each in the win. Kester's hit total also included a double.
Miles earned the win in the circle, allowing seven hits, two runs and fanning six in a complete game effort.
Junior Kali Brickman (Huber Heights, OH) started and took the loss, allowing nine hits and seven runs - only two of which were earned as the result of the leadoff error in the fifth - over 4-2/3 innings.
Adams finished 2-for-3 in the loss for the RedStorm, while freshman Kalya Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) also had a double in a losing cause.
Rio Grande returns to action on Thursday when it entertains Ohio Christian University in another River States Conference doubleheader.
The games were originally scheduled for Friday, but were moved up a day due to the forecast of inclement weather.
First pitch for game one is scheduled for noon.
