Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Madison Perry's three-run double highlighted a five-run sixth inning rally and lifted the University of Rio Grande to a 7-4 game one win over Midway University, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference softball play at Rio Softball Park.
The Eagles salvaged a split of the doubleheader by posting an 8-1 triumph in game two.
Rio Grande finished the day at 18-10 overall and 10-6 in the RSC.
Midway headed home at 11-15 overall and 9-7 against conference foes.
The Eagles led throughout game one, taking a 4-2 advantage into the home half of the sixth inning before the RedStorm mounted what proved to be their game-winning rally.
Redshirt sophomore Riley Hughes (Wheelersburg, OH) led off with a walk and was replaced by freshman pinch-runner Trinity Davis (Hartsville, SC). A single by senior Lexi Carnahan (Felicity, OH) and a walk to sophomore Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) loaded the bases, setting the stage for the bases-clearing double to the left-center field gap by Perry, a sophomore rom Portsmouth, Ohio.
Freshman Maddie Engler (Crestline, OH) then reached on an error with Perry advancing to third and a subsequent bunt single by senior Caitlyn Brisker (Oak Hill, OH) made it 6-4.
After a pitching change and a groundout, junior Maddie Ogden (Williamsburg, OH) plated Engler with a sacrifice fly to right.
Ogden did allow a one-out single in the top of the seventh, but retired each of the next two batters routinely to nail down the victory.
Brisker, Carnahan and junior Boo Sturgill (Wheelersburg, OH) all finished with two hits, while Ogden drove in two runs and Sedgwick finished with a double and a run batted in. Sturgill and Carnahan's hit total included a double each.
Ogden earned her ninth win in the pitcher's circle, allowing five hits and just two earned runs in a complete game effort. She walked two and struck out seven.
Breanna Beach started and lost for Midway. She allowed 10 hits and all seven runs - five earned - over five-plus innings.
Katie Rhodes and Sawyer Snodgrass drove in runs for the Eagles.
In game two, Midway again jumped to a 3-0 first inning but, unlike the way the opening game played out, the Eagles maintained their advantage and, in fact, added to it with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings and a single marker in the sixth.
Ryann Berger and Carly Jones both had two hits and two RBI in the win, while Kennadi Thompson and Sidney Hudnall both had two hits and one run batted in.
Payton Baum added two hits of her own, including a double, in the winning effort. Thompson also had a double.
Alexia Hoskins started and got the win for Midway, allowing just one run despite being touched for a dozen hits.
Ogden went 3-for-4 with a double in the loss for Rio, while junior Peyton Young (Mt. Orab, OH) had three hits of her and drove in the RedStorm's lone run.
Carnahan also had a pair of hits in a losing cause.
Senior Kali Brickman (Huber Heights, OH) started and suffered the loss. She allowed seven hits and five runs - four earned - over 3-1/3 innings.
Weather permitting, Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday afternoon with a non-conference doubleheader at Georgetown (Ky.) College.
First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
