Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Not even a game two rain delay could dampen the efforts of the University of Rio Grande softball team toward trying to avert a Senior Day disaster.
After losing the opening game of their twin bill with Indiana University Southeast, the RedStorm survived a 68-minute rain delay immediately after rallying to take a game two lead and then held on after the resumption of the contest for a split of their River States Conference at Rio Softball Park.
The visiting Grenadiers posted a 6-1 win in the opener, while Rio tallied a 5-3 triumph in the nightcap.
The RedStorm finished the day at 29-16 overall and 22-10 against RSC foes.
IU Southeast headed home at 23-18 overall and 17-15 in league play.
The Grenadiers were thinking sweep after bolting to a 3-0 first inning lead in game two. Grace Stapleton gave the visitors the lead with a run-scoring fielder's choice and Kaitlyn Leister added a two-run double.
Rio Grande, which had managed just one run over an 18-inning stretch dating back to Friday's game two loss to St. Mary-of-the-Woods, finally roared to life in the fourth inning against IUS thanks to a pair of pinch hits.
Sophomore Emily Lane (Charlotte, NC) got the RedStorm on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly and freshman Kennedy Algire (Fredericktown, OH) made it 3-2 with a pinch-hit single.
Junior Mady Vivace (Indianapolis, IN) gave Rio the lead moments later with a two-run, pinch single and then the rains came.
After the delay, the RedStorm tacked on a solo home run by senior Natalie Bates (Vandalia, OH) in the fifth inning to set the final score.
Senior Meg McCallum (Belmont, Ontario, Canada) retired 13 straight batters after the Leister two-run double before allowing a pair of sixth inning hits.
McCallum survived the jam and, after the Grenadiers put two runners on with one out in the seventh, she induced Josie Lemmons to line into a game-ending double play.
Bates finished 2-for-2 in the win, while McCallum scattered five hits and a pair of walks in a complete game effort.
Liv Morris started and lost for IU Southeast, surrendering five hits and four runs - three earned - over 3-2/3 innings.
In game one, the Grenadiers grabbed an early lead with single runs in the first and second innings and then put the win on ice with two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Rio Grande avoided the shutout by scoring with two outs in the seventh and final frame on an infield single by sophomore Delana Landefeld (Williamsport, OH).
Savannah Gaither was 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI for IUS, while Lemmons had two hits and an RBI, Leister homered, McKenzie Walters finished 2-for-4 and Alaina Winzeler had a double.
Emma Davis got the win for the Grenadiers, scattering six hits and two walks in a complete game effort.
Freshman Macy Kise (Milford Center, OH) started and lost for Rio, allowing nine hits and four runs over 4-1/3 innings.
Algire had a pinch-hit double for the RedStorm.
Rio Grande will return to action on Sunday with a single non-league game at NCAA Division III Capital University.
First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Clowson Field in Columbus, Ohio.
