RIO GRANDE, Ohio – IU Southeast fell to Rio Grande 4-1 and 4-3 on Friday.
In game one, IU Southeast only manged four hits off of starter Kelsey Conkey. They short-circuited two potential chances at run-scoring rallies by grounding into double plays in the first and sixth innings.
The top third of the Grenadier lineup recorded a hit in the contest but they could not string them together to produce a run.
Rio Grande (22-10, 12-0 RSC) scored a pair of runs in the first inning when Kenzie Cremeens hit an RBI double to score Michaela Criner who had been hit by a pitch. Later, Taylor Webb doubled down the left field line to bring in Cremeens.
Rio Grande threatened in every inning except of the fifth when starter Emily Weiss retired the side in order.
IU Southeast (16-16, 7-3 RSC) got on the board in the seventh when Baylee Krueger singled. Miranda Miller pinch ran and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She scored on a double by Ashtyn Sharp.
Kelsey Conkey earned her ninth win of the season in a complete-game win. Emily Weiss took the loss.
In game two, IU Southeast took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Ashtyn Sharp doubled and then Baylee Krueger followed with a RBI single.
Neither offense could manage any scoring threats until the bottom of the sixth when Kelsey Conkey tied the game with her fifth home run of the season. IU Southeast starter Becca Schoenung allowed just one run on six hits in the first seven innings of the contest.
Sydney Seger led off the top of the ninth with a double and Morgan Keefer came in to run for her. Keefer advanced to third on a groundout by Lindsey Keen and scored on a throwing error by Criner. Emily Weiss reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a RBI double by Justice Kline to give the Grenadiers a 3-1 lead.
Mary Pica led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run to center to cut the lead to one. After Aubrey Azbill reached on a fielder's choice which retired Carly Skeese, Cammy Hesson singled. A wild pitch by Weiss put runners at second and third, Criner was intentionally walked. Lexi Philen followed with a single down the left field line which scored Azbill and Hesson to win it for the RedStorm.
Baylee Krueger had two hits in the loss.
IU Southeast travels to West Virginia Tech Saturday at noon.
