Rio Grande Sports Information
OAKLAND CITY, Ind. - Host Oakland City University used one big inning to fuel a game one win and a solid pitching performance in game two to finish off a doubleheader sweep of the University of Rio Grande, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference softball action at the East Gibson Girls' Softball League Field.
The Mighty Oaks erased an early 3-0 deficit by scoring nine times in the fourth inning for a 10-3 triumph in the opener, while two pitchers teamed on a seven-hit effort in a 3-2 game two win.
Oakland City, which completed a season sweep of the RedStorm, improved to 31-11 overall and a conference-leading 25-3 with the wins.
Rio Grande finished the day at 25-14 overall and 18-8 in the RSC.
The RedStorm led 3-0 after two innings in game one thanks to a bases-loaded walk to senior Natalie Bates (Vandalia, OH) in the first inning and run-scoring hits by junior Nigella Reck (Covington, OH) and freshman Macy Kise (Milford Center, OH) in the second inning.
But the hosts started their comeback with a solo home run by Hannah Wissel in the third inning and then lowered the boom with the fourth inning uprising.
Jordan Bufford hit a solo home run to start the scoring in the frame and then capped the explosion with a grand slam home run. In between, Wissel added an RBI double and Kinsley Heichelbech tacked on a two-run double.
Sophomore Delana Landefeld (Williamsport, OH) and Kise both had two hits in the loss, while freshman Meredith Pieratt (Eaton, OH) took the loss in relief after allowing four hits, a walk and six runs in one-third of an inning.
Grace Butcher got the win in relief for Oakland City, allowing one hit and striking out six over five shutout innings.
Bufford finished with three hits and five RBI for the Mighty Oaks, while Wissel, Heichelbech and Megan Stewart all had two hits each.
Game two was played much closer to the vest.
An RBI single in the second inning by freshman Gabby Henry (Williamsport, OH) gave Rio Grande an early 1-0 lead before the Oaks went in front in the bottom of the inning on a two-run double by Heichelbech.
A sacrifice fly by Bates in the top of the third knotted the score at 2-all, but Oakland City regained the lead for good in the home half of the frame on a run-scoring hit by Bufford.
Rio's best chance at tying or taking the lead came in the fifth when Reck doubled with one out and Kise followed with a single, but Butcher was brought on in relief and routinely retired each of the next two batters to end the threat.
Morgan Sonner started and got the win for OCU, allowing seven hits and two runs over 4-1/3 innings.
Butcher worked the final 2-2/3 innings for a save.
Senior Meg McCallum (Belmont, Ontario, Canada) went the distance and suffered the loss in the circle for Rio Grande.
Reck and Kise both had two hits, including a double, in a losing cause.
Bufford and Hallie McCracken had two hits each for the Mighty Oaks.
Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday when it hosts West Virginia University-Tech in an RSC twin bill at Rio Softball Park.
First pitch for game one is set for 3 p.m.
