Rio Grande Sports Information
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Lauren Geringer cracked a three-run home run to cap a six-run, eighth inning rally and lift Central Methodist (Mo.) University to an 8-2 win over the University of Rio Grande, Monday afternoon, in the Auburn-Montgomery Bracket of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round at the AUM Softball Complex.
The Eagles, ranked 19th in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll and the No. 2 seed in the bracket, improved to 42-16 with the victory.
Rio Grande, ranked 22nd nationally and seeded third in the bracket, had an 18-game winning streak snapped in falling to 40-8 for the season.
The loss denied the RedStorm a new single-season school record for wins and the eight runs allowed were the most since a 9-1 season-opening loss at Reinhardt (Ga.) on February 26.
Rio Grande will face fourth-seeded Lourdes (Ohio) University in an elimination game on Tuesday, at 4:30 p.m. EDT. The Gray Wolves suffered a 10-0 mercy rule-shortened loss to top-seeded Auburn-Montgomery in Monday's nightcap.
The Rio-Lourdes winner will also play at 7 p.m. EDT in another elimination contest against the loser of Tuesday's 2 p.m. EDT winner's bracket final between Auburn-Montgomery and Central Methodist.
Rio Grande took a 2-0 third inning lead in Monday's opener when freshman Kelsey Conkey (Minford, OH) led off with a walk, junior Alex Kuhn (Oak Hill, OH) followed with single to shortstop, junior Brittany Walk (Unionville Center, OH) bunted both into scoring position and sophomore Gabby Gregg (Ashville, OH) bounced a two-run single to center.
That's how things stayed until the top of the fifth when CMU rallied to tie the game.
Kylee Foster led off with a double, Skyler Hime reached on a infield single to shortstop and - after a steal of second by Hime and a groundout - Geringer hit a sacrifice fly to center and Hannah Blackmon followed with a game-tying single to center.
Neither team dented the plate again until the Eagles blew things open with their eighth inning uprising.
Addyson Reardon led off with a walk and moved to third on a passed ball and an infield single by Alyssa Lilly. Lilly was replaced by pinch-runner Sydney Harmon before a walk to Bailey Fidler loaded the bases.
One out later, Foster drew a walk to force home Reardon with the go-ahead run and Hime followed with a two-run single to center which pushed the lead to 5-2 and spelled the end of the day for Rio junior starter Jenna Jones (Lancaster, OH).
Conkey came on in relief and induced a popout by Jessie Wilmes, but Geringer followed with a three-run home run to center field - her 22nd longball of the season - to complete the scoring.
CMU starter Erin Enke retired the side in order in the home half of eighth to seal her 21st win in 28 decisions.
Enke allowed just four hits and the two runs in a complete game effort. She also walked three and struck out three.
Jones, who was charged with her first loss of the season in 19 decisions, allowed eight hits and seven runs - all earned - over 7-1/3 innings. She struck out five and issued a season-high seven walks - just the second time this season she walked more than three batters in any appearance.
Hime, Geringer and Foster all had two hits for Central Methodist.
Gregg had two hits a losing cause for Rio Grande.