Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - As good as a game one victory felt for the University of Rio Grande softball team, a game two loss by the RedStorm felt equally as bad - if not worse.
Madison Ogden began the day by tossing a one-hit, mercy rule-shortened shutout, but a mistake-filled setback in the nightcap followed as Rio divided a non-conference doubleheader with the University of Northwestern Ohio, Sunday afternoon, in the RedStorm's home opener at Rio Softball Park.
Rio Grande posted an 8-0 triumph in the opener, while the Racers held on for a 12-9 win in the back end of the twin bill.
The RedStorm finished the day at 8-4, while UNOH moved to 1-5 with its game two win.
In the opener, Ogden was outstanding en route to her fourth win in five decisions. The Williamsburg, Ohio junior, who finished with seven strikeouts, took a perfect game into the fourth inning before Dani Keighley reached on clean single to left.
UNOH's only other baserunner came when pinch-hitter Haily Edgell drew a two-out walk in the fifth innings.
Rio Grande got all of the offense it would need by scoring five times in the third inning. Ogden and junior Peyton Young (Mt. Orab, OH) sandwiched two-run singles around an RBI double by redshirt sophomore Rylie Hughes (Wheelersburg, OH).
Sophomore Gabby Adams (Grove City, OH) added a two-run single in the fourth inning, while freshman Maddie Engler's (Crestline, OH) two-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of fifth invoked the mercy rule.
Engler and senior Caitlyn Brisker (Oak Hill, OH) had three hits each in the win, while sophomore Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) finished 2-for-3. Brisker's hit total included a double.
Carlie Hanes started and took the loss for the Racers, allowing seven hits and four runs over three innings.
The nightcap found Rio Grande within one out of its own run-rule loss before rallying late to make things interesting.
Adams staked the RedStorm to a first inning lead with a two-run home run, but UNOH scored nine times in the second inning and twice in the top of the fifth to take an 11-3 lead of their own and set up a potential mercy victory.
Rio kept things going with a pair of runs and then scored four times in the home sixth to close within 11-9. The rally ended, though, with runners at the corners and the would-be go-ahead run at the plate.
Hanes, who came on in relief for the Racers in the sixth to help quell the Rio rally, struck out all three batters she faced in the seventh to secure a save.
Anna Ankney had two doubles and drove in a run for UNOH, while Zoe Johnson, Edgell and Alexis D'Alexander all had two hits and two RBI. Rio Grande transfer Holly Alvoid drove in a pair of runs and Keighley added a double and a run batted in.
Karsyn McGlothen started and got the win for the Racers despite allowing seven hits and five runs over 4-2/3 innings.
Senior Sydney Campolo (New Lexington, OH) started and took the loss for Rio Grande, allowing three hits and six runs - four earned - in one-plus inning.
Rio pitching allowed 13 hits, seven walks and hit a pair of batters, while the RedStorm also committed five errors in the loss.
Brisker had three hits, including a double, and drove in a run for Rio, while Hughes also had three hits and two RBI and Ogden doubled twice and drove in a run.
Sophomore Madison Perry (Portsmouth, OH) also had two hits in the loss and Adams finished with three RBI.
Rio Grande returns to action on Friday when it opens River States Conference play with a pair of games at Oakland City University.
