Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Barring the unforeseen, Point Park University made its final trip to the University of Rio Grande on Saturday afternoon.
And while the visiting Pioneers did manage to spoil the final home appearance of the RedStorm's top pitcher, they failed to spoil Senior Day altogether.
Rio Grande scored three times in the second inning, added two more runs in the fourth and then held on late for a 5-3 game two triumph in River States Conference softball action at Rio Softball Park.
The RedStorm's victory came on the heels of a 1-0 loss in the opening game of the twin bill.
Rio Grande finished the day at 26-16 overall and 18-10 in conference play.
Point Park, which is leaving the River States Conference and the NAIA at the conclusion of the current school year, headed home at 20-18 overall and 13-13 against RSC foes.
Rio Grande took a 3-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a run-scoring single by sophomore Madison Perry (Portsmouth, OH) and a two-run triple by senior Caitlyn Brisker (Oak Hill, OH), while another RBI triple by Brisker and subsequent run-scoring single by junior Boo Sturgill (Wheelersburg, OH) in the fourth made it 5-1.
That's how things stayed until a shaky final inning.
Breanna Pies opened the seventh with a single along the right field line and was replaced by pinch-runner Mackenzie Moore, who moved to second on an infield single by Hayley O'Neil.
One out later, Moore scored on a single to right-center by Melanie Taylor, prompting Rio head coach Chris Hammond to lift senior starter Sydney Campolo (New Lexington, OH) in favor of fellow senior Kali Brickman (Huber Heights, OH).
O'Neil scored on a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop by Mara Iagnemma to make it 5-3 and Mia Arndt followed with a double to left-center, putting the tying runs in scoring position and bringing the would-be go-ahead run to the plate.
The game - and the rally - fizzled out when Sydnie Reese lined out to third base.
Brisker finished 3-for-4 with the two triples and three RBI, while junior Megan Bazler (Portsmouth, OH) also had three hits and Sturgill finished 2-for-3.
Senior Lexi Carnahan (Felicity, OH) added a double to the winning effort.
Campolo earned her seventh win of the season and her second in as many days, allowing nine hits and three runs over 6-1/3 innings.
Brickman recorded her first save.
Savannah Lee started for Point Park and suffered the loss. She allowed 12 hits and the five runs, only two of which were earned.
Taylor finished 3-for-4 in the loss for PPU, while Arndt had two hits and a run batted in and Lee had a double.
Game one was a pitching duel between Rio Grande junior Madison Ogden (Williamsburg, OH) and Point Park's Jaylyn Mullenax.
Ogden allowed just three hits, while walking two and striking out 10.
Mullenax also allowed three hits and fanned two.
The Pioneers scored the game's lone run when Reese led off with a double and rode home on consecutive groundouts by Bailey Magliocco and O'Neil.
Rio Grande put the would-be tying run in scoring position with one out in the fifth when sophomore Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) singled and moved to second on a passed ball, but Mullenax retired each of the next two batters on routine infield popouts.
The RedStorm went down in order in both the sixth and seventh frames.
Rio's only other scoring threat came in the fourth when junior Peyton Young (Mt. Orab, OH) doubled with two outs, but erased the threat by inducing sophomore Gabby Adams (Grove City, OH) to flyout to left.
Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday in none-conference play at the University of Northwestern Ohio.
First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Racer Field in Lima, Ohio.
