NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast softball team finished a four-game sweep of Rio Grande with a pair of wins on Senior Day to clinch their third-straight KIAC regular-season title under head coach Joe Witten.
In game one, the Grenadiers struck first with two runs in the second inning. Katelyn Heines reached base after third baseman Gaby Gregg unleashed a wild throw. Delaney Arnold singled to move Heines to third. Then Cadie Povaleri got a bunt down and Heines was safe at home after a wild throw by the pitcher Jenna Jones. Povaleri advanced to third after Arnold was tagged out in a rundown. She scored on Brooke Barnett's sacrifice fly.
Rio Grande got a run back in the top of the third. Gregg was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a bunt and scored on a single from Brittan Walk.
IU Southeast answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Morgan Klosterman singled and Shelby Lucas doubled to left-center to send her to third. Brookelyn Visker grounded out to second to bring in Klosterman.
Visker would add another RBI in the fifth when she singled to score Jessica Leanhart.
Shelby Lucas went 2-for-3 in the game and Visker had two RBI.
Leanhart worked seven innings, surrendering three hits and one run. She walked two and struck out five.
In game two, the Grenadiers used a three-run third inning to build a comfortable lead.
Cadie Povaleri and Lauren Klosterman started the inning with back-to-back singles. Barnett bunted the runners to second and third. Montanah Rogers reached base on a fielder's choice and Povaleri was able to beat the throw home. Then Morgan Klosterman reached base as the pitcher Tiffany Bise could not field her grounder back to the pitcher. That scored Lauren Klosterman. Price grounded out to bring in Rogers.
Price would double in the sixth inning to score Morgan Klosterman who had singled.
Caroline Cato got the win in seven innings of work. She gave up two runs on six hits, walking five and striking out one.
The Grenadiers' only senior, third baseman and two-year captain Summer Sanders, appeared in her final home game after suffering a torn ACL, LCL and meniscus last week against Asbury. She entered the game in the bottom of the sixth as a pinch runner for Morgan Klosterman and in the process appeared in her 150th career game to move into sixth place on the career games played list.
The Grenadiers will begin their KIAC Tournament run on Friday at 10 a.m.
