Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The fact that the University of Rio Grande managed just one run en route to dropping both ends of a doubleheader was front page news.
The fact that it happened at home was nearly akin to a sighting of Halley's Comet.
Oakland City University took down the RedStorm in convincing fashion on Saturday afternoon, collecting wins of 4-0 and 11-1 in River States Conference action at Rio Softball Park.
The Mighty Oaks pushed their record to 11-9 overall and 4-2 in the RSC with the sweep.
Rio Grande fell to 11-10 overall and 4-4 in conference play as a result of the losses.
The home sweep was just the third of its kind in the last 13 years. The other two instances were losses at the hands of Georgetown (Ky.) College on April 23, 2014 and to Lindsey Wilson University on April 15, 2024.
Rio Grande managed just four hits - all singles - in the game one loss.
Oakland City scored the only run it would need in the fourth inning and added three more markers in the fifth inning.
Hannah Wissel had a run-scoring hit in the fourth inning, while Bailey Cox had an RBI single and Hallie McCracken added a two-run single in the fifth inning.
McCracken finished 3-for-4, while Kasey Wood went 2-for-3 with a double. Jordan Bufford and Baylee Rhodes also doubled in the win.
Grace Butcher got the win for Oakland City, walking one and fanning five in the complete game effort.
Freshman Meredith Pieratt (Eaton, OH) started and lost for Rio, allowing seven hits and three runs over 4-1/3 innings.
Game two was scoreless through four innings, but the Mighty Oaks flexed their muscles over their final three at bats with two runs in the fifth, five in the sixth and four in the seventh.
Rio's lone run came on an RBI single by freshman Macy Kise (Milford Center, OH) in the home sixth.
Wood was 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI to lead Oakland City, while Bufford had three hits and Rhodes was 2-for-4.
McCracken had a two-run home in the win.
Butcher got the game two win as well, scattering six hits and a walk while striking out eight.
Kise took the loss for Rio Grande, allowing five hits, five walks and six runs over 5-2/3 innings.
Rio Grande will return to action next Friday when it travels to St. Mary-of-the-Woods for another RSC twin bill.
