NEW ALBANY, Ind. – IU Southeast softball was swept at home by Rio Grande Saturday afternoon.
The Grenadiers dropped to 10-7 overall and 4-6 in conference play. IU Southeast is back at home on Tuesday for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against IU Columbus at the Koetter Sports Softball Complex.
Game 1: Rio Grande 4, IU Southeast 1
The Red Storm plated a pair of runs in the top of the first, and the Grenadiers responded with one in the bottom of the first. McKenzie Walter reached base after a fielding error, then scored two batters later after Savannah Gaither doubled to left field to cut Rio Grande's lead in half.
Rio Grande added a run in the fifth, then another in the sixth. IU Southeast made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh when Raycee Stallings reached base with one out. Stallings would advance to second, but would end up getting stranded, and Rio Grande took game one 4-1.
IU Southeast's offense struggled mightily in game one, mustering just one run on three hits. The Grenadiers went three-up, three-down three different times in game one.
Game 2: Rio Grande 1, IU Southeast 0 (9 innings)
The Grenadiers had a chance to walk it off in the seventh after loading the bases but came up empty to force extra innings. The Red Storm finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the ninth after hitting back-to-back doubles.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Grenadiers had a chance to win it. With two outs and the bases empty, Josie Lemmons singled to center and then reached third after a double by Walters. The Red Storm elected to intentionally walk Sofia Guy to load the bases.
Despite loading the bases, the Grenadiers were unable to score any runs and were defeated 1-0. IU Southeast struggled mightily all day in run support, stranding 13 baserunners over the course of nine innings.
