Rio Grande Sports Information
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The University of Rio Grande softball team picked up two more wins on Saturday afternoon, rallying to defeat Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and thumping Johnson (Tenn.) University in day two of the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Softball Complex.
The RedStorm (4-0) rallied with three runs in their final at bat to stun Embry-Riddle, 5-4, while posting a 12-0 mercy rule-shortened win over Johnson in their final game of the day.
Embry-Riddle, which was among the teams receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Top 25 poll, scored once in the first and three times in the third inning to grab a 4-0, but Rio Grande started the road back with a pair of runs in the home third - one when junior Payton Young (Mt. Orab, OH) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and the other on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Gabby Adams (Grove City, OH).
That's how things stayed until the RedStorm's dramatic rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Freshman Riley Hughes (Wheelersburg, OH) opened the frame with a pinch-hit single and was promptly replaced by pinch-runner - and fellow frosh - Trinity Davis (Hartsville, S.C.). One out later, senior Caitlyn Brisker (Oak Hill, OH) forced Davis out at second on a fielder's choice grounder to third.
Freshman Maddie Engler (Crestline, OH) kept the inning alive with a single as Brisker advanced to secon, setting the stage for a game-tying double to left-center off the bat of Young.
Adams capped the rally moments later by doubling home Young with the winning run.
Young, Adams and Engler all finished with two hits for Rio.
Junior Hannah Beers (Springfield, OH) earned the win in relief, allowing three hits and a walk over four shutout innings. She also struck out three.
Kate Delaney went the distance in the loss for the Eagles (5-6). She allowed 10 hits, but did not walk a batter and fanned six.
Maddie Judge went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Embry-Riddle, while Lily Anderson also had two hits and Anise Romo added a triple.
Diana Miranda Montano doubled and drove in a run in the loss, while Delaney and Autumn Sulusi each drove in a run and Emma Almodoba had a double.
Game two against Johnson proved much less dramatic.
Rio scored twice in both the second and third innings to take a 4-0 lead and then finished off the run-rule victory by scoring eight times in the fifth.
Junior Madison Ogden (Williamsburg, OH) tossed a one-hit shutout, while walking three and striking out 10. She also helped her own cause at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a home run, a pair of doubles and four RBI.
Sophomore Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) added two hits, including a double, and two RBI, while senior Lexi Carnahan (Felicity, OH) also had two hits.
Reece Simpson started and took the loss for the Royals (0-6), allowing 11 hits and 10 runs - eight earned - over 4-1/3 innings.
Ella Hampton had Johnson's lone hit - a leadoff single in the fourth inning.
Rio Grande will wrapup its weekend on Sunday morning when it faces Truett-McConnell (Ga.) on the final day of the Classic.
First pitch is set for 9 a.m.
