Rio stops Saints' march, posts 5-2 win in NAIA tourney opener

Rio Grande Sports Information
     INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - For one day, anyway, University of Rio Grande sophomore Gabby Adams couldn't be accused of not finishing what she started.
     The Grove City, Ohio native hit a second inning solo home run to get the scoring underway and added a two-run circuit clout in the seventh inning to finish off the RedStorm's 5-2 win over Aquinas (Mich.) College in the opening game of the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round's Indianapolis Bracket, Monday morning, at Marian Softball Diamond.
     Rio Grande, which is seeded fifth in the five-team double elimination bracket, improved to 35-17 with a seventh consecutive win and advanced to a winner's bracket meeting with top-seeded tourney host Marian University, Tuesday morning, at 10 a.m.
     Aquinas, the No. 4 seed, dropped to 40-14 with the loss and will square off with third-seeded Middle Georgia State in an elimination game on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
     Middle Georgia lost to No. 2 seed and defending national champion Southern Orgeon University, 1-0, in Monday's second game.
     Adams deposited the first offering from Aquinas starter Grace McGuire in the second inning over the left field fence to give Rio a 1-0 lead.
     The Saints tied the game in the bottom of the second when Kaelyn Stafford and Carson Hendrickson began the inning with consecutive singles and, one out later, Stafford scored on a pinch-hit single by Elizabeth Haunhorst.
     The RedStorm got the lead back in the third inning when senior Caitlyn Brisker (Oak Hill, OH) led off with a single, moved to second on a one-out walk to junior Madison Ogden (Williamsburg, OH) and scored on a single up the middle by junior Peyton Young (Mt. Orab, OH).
     Rio maintained its 2-1 advantage until the home fifth when Aquinas' Courtney Hardin reached on a two-out single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Darrien Roberts.
     The RedStorm reclaimed the lead in the sixth when freshman Maddie Engler (Crestline, OH) reached on a one-out error, advanced to third on a double to right-center by Brisker and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) to make it 3-2.
     Adams sealed the deal in the seventh when, after Young opened the inning with a walk, she launched a booming blast to left for her ninth home run of the season.
     The Saints did put runners at first and second with one out in the home half of the frame to bring the would-be tying run to the plate, but Ogden retired Stafford on a strikeout and Hendrickson on a flyout to nail down the victory.
     Ogden allowed six hits and four walks, while striking out seven en route to her 18th win in 26 decisions.
     In addition to Adams' big day at the plate, sophomore Natalie Bates (Vandalia, OH) had three hits, while Brisker and Sedgwick both added two hits each.
     Roberts had two hits in the loss for Aquinas, which stranded 11 runners on base. Eight of the 11 were left in scoring position.
     Rio Grande also had additional chances that it failed to take advantage of and stranded 10 runners.
     McGuire (15-7) took the loss for the Saints, allowing 10 hits and walking five.