Rio Grande wins both in KIAC Softball Games of the Week over Point Park
Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The University of Rio Grande used its season-long formula - strong pitching and timely hitting - to score a doubleheader sweep of Point Park University, 4-1 and 6-0, Sunday afternoon, in Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball action at Rio Softball Park.
The games were designated as the KIAC Games of the Week.
Rio Grande improved to 26-7 overall and 13-1 in league play with the victories.
Point Park dropped to 10-16 overall and 4-4 inside the KIAC as a result of the sweep.
Jenna Jones - the reigning KIAC Pitcher of the Week - allowed two hits and an unearned run en route to her 12th win in as many decisions in the opener. She walked three and fanned five batters.
Point Park starter Ashley Iagnemma was perfect through the first three innings, but Brittany Walk led off the fourth with a single and, one out later, Tayler Arndt lined her fourth home run of the year over the fence in left for a 2-0 lead.
The lead grew to 4-0 in the fifth when Cheyenne Hamaker led off with a bunt single and scored moments later on a home run to left by Kelsey Conkey.
The Pioneers made it interesting late, though, scoring once in the sixth on a two-out passed ball and loading the bases with one out in the seventh before Jones induced Shannon Davis to ground into a game-ending 4-6-3 double-play.
In game two, Rio Grande did its damage early with three runs in the first inning and another marker in the second against Point Park starter Hannah Harley.
Arndt plated the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to left before Ariel Roder had an RBI triple and senior Kim Rollins (Cincinnati, OH) followed with a run-scoring single to make it 3-0.
Arndt tacked on an RBI single in the second inning and followed up a run-scoring double by Gabby Gregg in the sixth inning with another run-scoring hit of her own to close out the scoring.
Arndt finished 3-for-3 with three RBI, while Gregg was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Meanwhile, Conkey kept the Pioneers in check inside the circle, scattering four hits and two walks in a complete game effort. She also struck out five, improving to 12-5 on the season.
Erica Burns accounted for half of the Pioneers' hits, going 2-for-3.
Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action on Monday afternoon at the University of Northwestern Ohio in a non-conference doubleheader.
Point Park will play at Ohio Christian on Wednesday afternoon in the makeup of a rainout on Friday.