RIO GRANDE, Ohio – IU Southeast softball split a road doubleheader with the University of Rio Grande Saturday afternoon.
With Saturday's results, the Grenadiers are now 23-18 overall and 17-15 in conference play. IU Southeast currently sits in fourth place in the conference standings with four games remaining. The Grenadiers have a doubleheader Friday at 1:00 p.m. against Oakland City, then will honor its senior class on Saturday before a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against Midway.
Game 1: IU Southeast 6, Rio Grande 1
Savannah Gaither, who had four hits in game one, recorded an RBI single in the first inning to open the scoring. Kaitlyn Leister made it 2-0 in the second with a solo home run. The Grenadiers doubled their lead in the fifth, with RBI singles by Gaither and Grace Stapleton.
Lemmons and Gaither recorded one RBI each in the sixth. The Red Storm did score one in the bottom of the seventh, but the Grenadiers took game one.
Emma Davis pitched a complete game, allowing one run on six hits and striking out four. Davis now has eleven wins on the year.
Game 2: Rio Grande 5, IU Southeast 3
IU Southeast got off to a fast start in game two, plating three runs in the top of the first. Stapleton over the scoring with a fielder's choice, then Leister added two more runs after a double to left center.
Rio Grande roared back with a big fourth inning. The Red Storm plated four runs to take the lead, then added one more runs in the bottom of the fifth. IU Southeast made a push in the sixth and seventh innings.
In the sixth, McKenzie Walters and Gaither recorded one hit each but were left stranded. Lillian Mackey led off the seventh with a single to center, then Chloee Shewmaker drew a walk to put two on with two outs. Neither Mackey nor Shewmaker scored, and Rio Grande took game two.
