SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. - IU Southeast softball advanced to the championship of the 2026 RSC Tournament after winning 3-0 over No. 3 Rio Grande.
IU Southeast scored their first run in the top of the second. Grace Stapleton hit a one-out single, then advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt by Kaitlyn Leister. Lillian Mackey put the Grenadiers up 1-0 after an RBI single to left field.
The Grenadiers scored two more in the third. Chloee Shewmaker led off the inning with a solo home run to center field to make it 2-0. Josie Lemmons followed up Shewmaker's home run with a single, then moved to second after a sacrifice bunt by McKenzie Walters. Sofia Guy singled to left to put runners on the corners with one out, then Savannah Gaither singled to center field to score Lemmons.
Rio Grande made pushes in the fourth and fifth innings. The Red Storm stranded two runners in the fourth then left the bases loaded in the fifth. IU Southeast kept the Red Storm off the scoreboard and won the game 3-0.
Emma Davis picked up her second win of the day and her third win of the tournament after pitching 5.0 innings. Davis allowed zero runs on four hits and one strikeout. Liv Morris earned another save after 2.0 innings of scoreless relief. Morris had one strikeout and allowed zero hits.
Coach Courtney Holm's team advances to the RSC Tournament Championship with the win. The Grenadiers' opponent in the final will be the winner of game nine between No. 3 Rio Grande and No. 6 IU Columbus.
