Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - One big inning produced a game one win, while a big late inning rally in game two helped the University of Rio Grande notch a doubleheader sweep of Indiana University Columbus, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference softball action at Rio Softball Park.
The RedStorm took the opener, 6-0, before recording a 7-4 triumph in the nightcap to push their record to 23-12 overall and 16-6 in conference play.
IU Columbus finished the day at 14-14 overall and 11-11 in the RSC.
In the game one victory, Rio Grande did all of its offensive damage in the third inning.
Junior Nigella Reck (Covington, OH) and senior Natalie Bates (Vandalia, OH) both hit two-run home runs in the uprising. Sophomore Lindzie Runions (Poca, WV) and freshman Gabby Henry (Williamsport, OH) both had run-scoring doubles in the frame.
Freshman Macy Kise (Milford Center, OH) tossed a three-hit shutout in the pitcher's circle, striking out five in the process.
Destiny Fowler started and lost for the Crimson Pride, allowing five hits and four runs - one earned - over 2-2/3 innings.
Lex Heafner had two of the three IUC hits.
Game two saw the visitors grab a 2-0 second inning lead before Rio forged a tie with single runs in the second and third innings before taking a 4-2 advantage by scoring twice in the fifth inning on a double by Runions.
The Crimson Pride promptly tied the game in the top of the sixth thanks to a two-run single by Linnea Baldner, forcing the RedStorm's go-ahead rally in the bottom of the frame.
Reck put Rio in front with a two-run single and junior Kendyl Moss (Cincinnati, OH) later added an RBI single.
Moss finished 3-for-4, while Reck and sophomore Emily Lane (Charlotte, N.C.) had two hits each and Bates added an RBI double.
Senior Meg McCallum (Belmont, Ontario, Canada) picked up the win in the circle, while Kise recorded the final two outs for her second save.
Mackenzie Matern went the distance in suffering the loss for IUC.
Baldner, Renee Lecher, Sydney Sauri and Lily Culp all had two hits in the loss for the Crimson Pride. Sauri, Culp and Matern all had one double each.
Rio Grande will return to action on Friday when it opens a two-day, four-game RSC road swing at Midway University.
First pitch for game one is set for 2 p.m.
