Tigers blank RedStorm in DH sweep

RIO GRANDE, Ohio – Visiting Georgetown College limited the University of Rio Grande to just one run and five hits en route to a doubleheader sweep of the RedStorm, 1-0 and 4-1, Wednesday afternoon, in Mid-South Conference action at Rio Softball Park.

Rio Grande, which was playing the final home games of its 2014 scheduled, suffered just its second sweep of the year in MSC play this season in falling to 27-16 overall and 19-13 in league play.

The Tigers, who received votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 coaches poll, improved to 28-12 overall and 23-9 in the conference.

The opening game was a pitcher’s duel between Rio freshman Jenna Jones (Lancaster, OH) and Georgetown’s Kayla Williams.

Jones allowed just three hits and an unearned run, while walking one and striking out six in a complete game effort.

Williams also went the distance in a four-hit shutout effort. She walked one and struck out 10 en route to her 11th win of the season in 17 decisions.

The game’s lone run scored in the top of the fifth when Sandy Young reached on an error to begin the inning, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. After another groundout and a walk to Rachel Simms, Young raced home on a passed ball.

Rio Grande, which didn’t have a baserunner until sophomore Kim Rollins (Cincinnati, OH) reached on a two-out single in the fourth, left runners at first base in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and also managed one final scoring chance in the seventh.

Jones led off with walk and moved to second on a one-out single to center by freshman Alex Kuhn (Oak Hill, OH). Sophomore Mattie Lanham (Rio Grande, OH) followed with a blast to left-center which appeared ticketed for a game-tying extra-base hit, but Georgetown’s Emily Snow made a dazzling running catch in the gap for the second out and freshman Kari Jenkins (Jackson, OH) grounded to second to end the game.

Young had two of the Tigers’ three hits, while Chelsea Riney had the other with a leadoff double in the sixth.

Game two saw GC push across an unearned run in the first inning and three third inning markers against Jones to open up a comfortable lead, but the Tigers had to sweat out the final two innings to nail down the win.

Georgetown scored its first inning run when Riney led off with a single to center, was bunted into scoring position, stole third and scored on a throwing error. The three third inning runs crossed on a double by Ashley Coppage, a single by Young and an RBI single by Cassidy Taylor.

Rio Grande again was held hitless by GC starter Jessica Claxton until mounting a sixth inning rally.

Jenkins reached on an error to begin the inning and, one out later, was forced out at second on freshman Cheyenne Hamaker’s (Hilliard, OH) grounder to shortstop. Hamaker then stole second and scored on a bloop single to left by junior Jessi Robinson (Wilmington, OH). Rollins followed with a walk to bring Jones – representing the tying run – to the plate, but she popped out to third to end the threat.

The RedStorm also threatened against reliever Sydney Goyette in the bottom of the seventh when Lanham and Jenkins reached on consecutive two-out errors to bring up freshman Shanea Long (Wellston, OH) representing the tying run, but Goyette induced Long into a game-ending popout to shortstop.

Young finished 3-for-4 in the win for the Tigers, while Riney, Coppage and Taylor all had two hits. Claxton allowed the one hit and the unearned run over six innings, while walking three and striking out nine for her 14th win in 18 decisions.

Goyette was credited with her second save.

Jones allowed seven hits and four runs – three earned – in 2-1/3 innings. She took the loss in both games and stands at 16-11 for the season.

Rio Grande returns to action on Friday afternoon when it opens a two-stop, weekend road trip at eighth-ranked Lindsey Wilson. First pitch for game one is set for 4 p.m. EDT.

The RedStorm and the Blue Raiders just met on Monday in Rio Grande, with the RedStorm posting a 2-1 win in the opener and Lindsey Wilson taking game two, 6-1.

Live video and statistics of Friday’s games will be available at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/lwc.portal#.