Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - After dealing the University of Rio Grande just its third mercy rule-shortened home loss since 2014 and its first such setback in more than four years, Midway University set its sights on something even rarer - a home sweep of the RedStorm.
Head coach Chris Hammond's squad wasn't about to let that happen, though.
The RedStorm rallied from a three-run deficit in game two, scoring twice in the fourth inning and twice more in the home sixth to record a 4-3 win over the Eagles, Thursday afternoon, in River States Conference action at Rio Softball Park.
Rio Grande, which had a nine-game winning streak snapped with a 10-0, five-inning loss in the opener, finished the day at 29-15 overall and 17-7 in league play.
Midway, which began the day in a tie with Indiana University Southeast for the lead in the RSC's West Division, moved to 24-14 overall and 17-5 in the RSC with the split.
The Eagles enjoyed a 3-0 lead in the nightcap after a two-out RBI single in the first inning by Taylor Dukate and a two-out, two-run single by Katie Rhodes in the fourth, but Rio started the road back in its half of the fourth.
Junior Caitlyn Brisker (Oak Hill, OH) led off with a single, stole second and scored on a single by freshman Gabby Adams (Grove City, OH).
Freshman Madison Perry (Portsmouth, OH) followed with walk and, one out later, junior Lexi Carnahan (Felicity, OH) singled to load the bases.
Another walk to junior Cierra Clark (Plain City, OH) forced home a second run to get the RedStorm within 3-2.
Midway starter Madison Ludwig retired the next two batters to snuff out the rally and also stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the fifth inning before Rio mounted another comeback effort in the sixth.
Carnahan led off with a single, was bunted into scoring position and moved to third on a single by senior Christen Risner (Wheelersburg, OH).
Sophomore Boo Sturgill (Wheelersburg, OH) followed with a single to right to plate Carnahan with the tying run, while freshman Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) dropped a single along the right field line to load the bases.
Brisker then lined a bullet back up the middle that Rhodes speared with a dazzling diving catch but, when Rhodes flipped the ball toward second in an attempt to catch Sturgill off the bag for an inning-ending double-play, Risner broke for home and slid under the tag off of a high throw to give the RedStorm the lead.
Midway got a leadoff single in the seventh from Raigan Allbert, but Rio Grande junior starter Kali Brickman (Huber Heights, OH) routinely retired each of the next three batters to nail down the victory.
Sturgill, Sedgwick, Brisker and Carnahan had two hits each in the winning effort.
Brickman allowed 11 hits, but struck out four en route to her 11th win of the season.
The victory also allowed Rio Grande to avoid what would've been its first doubleheader sweep at home since April 23, 2014 when it lost both ends of a Mid-South Conference twin bll to Georgetown (Ky.) College.
Ludwig went the distance in the loss for Midway, also allowing 11 hits while walking two and striking out six.
Allbert, Kennadi Thompson, Dukate and Makenna Talcott all had two hits in the loss for the Eagles.
Game one, though, fell decidely in favor of the visitors, who gave the RedStorm their first mercy-rule home loss since an 11-3 loss to the University of Northwestern Ohio on March 20, 2019.
Midway sent eight batters to the plate in a four-run first inning and then batted around - chasing Rio junior starter Sydney Campolo (New Lexington, OH) in the process - for five more runs in the second.
Allbert and Mary Andres sandwiched an RBI double and a run-scoring single, respectively, around a two-run home run by Ludwig in the first inning uprising.
Allbert added a two-run double in the second, while Thompson had a sacrifice fly ahead of RBI hits by Talcott and Andres to complete the offensive explosion.
Thompson plated the Eagles' final run in the fifth inning with a run-scoring groundout.
Allbert finished 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, while Talcott went 3-for-3 with an RBI and Ludwig finished 2-for-3 with a homer, a double and two RBI.
Rhodes and Andres also had two hits each, while Thompson and Carly Jones doubled in the victory.
Ludwig tossed a four-hit shutout, walking two and fanning one.
Campolo took the loss for the RedStorm, surrendering seven hits and seven runs - five earned - in one-plus inning.
Sturgill had two of Rio's four hits in the loss.
The RedStorm is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday afternoon when it hosts West Virginia University-Tech in another RSC doubleheader.
First pitch for game one is set for 3 p.m.
