RedStorm cuts down Mighty Oaks for RSC championship

Rio Grande Sports Information
     SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Runs were hard to come by for the University of Rio Grande in Saturday afternoon's matchup with Oakland City University.
     But, as has been the case more often than not this season, one run can be more than enough when Madi Ogden is in the pitcher's circle.
     Ogden, the two-time reigning NAIA Pitcher of the Week, tossed her eighth consecutive shutout and made a lone third inning run stand up as the RedStorm edged the Mighty Oaks, 1-0, in the title game of the 2025 River States Conference Softball Championship at Little Creek Park.
     Rio Grande, the league's regular season champion and the tourney's top seed, improved to 44-9 with the win and captured the RSC's automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship, which begins May 12 at 10 sites across the country.
     Third-seeded Oakland City, which earned its spot in the championship game by ousting No. 6 seed Indiana University Columbus in Saturday's loser's bracket final, slipped to 29-16 with the loss.
     Ogden, who had a consecutive scoreless innings streak of 45-2/3 innings snapped while pitching in relief during Rio's 6-2 win over the Mighty Oaks in Friday's winner's bracket final, allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out 10 in Saturday's title game.
     The Williamsburg, Ohio senior right-hander retired the final 11 batters she faced, including six by way of strikeout.
     Rio Grande pushed across what proved to be the game's only run in the third inning against OCU starter Paige McDaniel.
     Junior Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) began the inning with a single to left and moved to second on a bunt single by sophomore Maddie Engler (Crestline, OH) before being lifted in favor of freshman pinch-runner Emily Lane (Charlotte, N.C.).
     Ogden followed with a grounder to second base which forced out Engler, but Oakland City shortstop Gabby Countryman threw the ball away while falling to the ground after appearing to trip over Engler's ankle and Lane raced home with a run.
     The RedStorm appeared to add what would've been a key insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, only to be denied on a controversial umpire's call.
     Ogden reached on an error to begin the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch and - after a walk to junior Gabby Adams (Grove City, OH) - reached third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Megan Bazler (Portsmouth, OH).
     Sophomore Nigella Reck (Covington, OH) then hit a groundball to Countryman at short, who looked Ogden back to third before making the throw to first. Ogden darted toward home nonetheless and appeared to beat the tag at the plate, but was ruled out to complete an inning-ending double-play.
     Sedgwick and freshman Madison Brentlinger (Indian Lake, OH) both had two hits in the winning effort.
     Emma Williams had two of the Mighty Oaks' three hits.
     McDaniels took the hard-luck loss - just her fourth in 17 decisions - despite scattering nine hits and a pair of walks, along with allowing the one run, in a complete game effort.
     Rio Grande will learn its opening round destination and opponent for the national tourney during the NAIA Softball Selection Show, which is set for Wednesday, at 6 p.m. EDT, on the NAIA's You Tube channel.