Eagles, Pioneers battle for right to face RedStorm in RSC tourney title game
Eagles, Pioneers battle for right to face RedStorm in RSC tourney title game
RSC Sports Information
VIENNA, W.Va. - For the second consecutive day, rain interrupted play in the 2018 River States Conference Softball Tournament at Jackson Memorial Park.
The loser's bracket final in the double-elimination tournament between No. 3 seed Midway University and fourth-seeded Point Park University was halted just five minutes into the contest with the Pioneers holding a 1-0 lead.
After a delay of just over 4-1/2 hours, conference officials decided to officially suspend the game with hopes of resuming play on Sunday at noon.
The winner will advance to face top-seeded Rio Grande, which rolled Midway, 8-2, in Saturday's winner's bracket final.
The Midway-Point Park winner would have to defeat the RedStorm twice in order to claim the tourney championship.
For the complete scores, stats, updated bracket and schedule, visit our RSC Softball Tournament Central Page.
NO. 3 MIDWAY 6, NO. 7 CARLOW 4 -- Box Score
Midway and Carlow were scheduled to finish their game on Friday night, but rain entered the area in the top of the seventh and forced the game to be finished on Saturday morning. The Eagles held a 6-4 lead with two outs and a runner on first when the game was suspended.
The two teams wrapped up the game with just one pitch, as Mallory Kruzich coaxed Sofia Papageorge into a comebacker back to the circle.
Midway moved to 2-0 in the tournament and advanced to the winner's bracket final.
The Celtics held a 4-3 lead after four complete innings, but Midway scored two in the fifth and one in the sixth to seal the win.
Carly Benz capped off a big day at the play with the go ahead single in the fifth. Benz finished the game going 4-for-4 with five RBI. Kelsey Geyer led the Carlow offensive attack going 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Kruzich took home the win for Midway in a relief appearance. She tossed four innings allowing an unearned run on three hits.
Abby Stroud was dealt with the loss for Carlow allowing three runs on five hits in three innings.
NO. 6 CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN 7, NO. 5 WEST VIRGINIA TECH 3 -- Box Score
In an elimination game for both teams, the Eagles scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning en route to the win.
CCU had three players with two hits apiece and was led by Alexis Rouse, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. She hit a two-run home run in the top of the first.
Valerie Hudepohl and Kelsey Warman added two hits apiece, while Hudepohl had two RBI and two runs scored.
Skylar Connelly and Alexis Lopez led the offensive attack for WVU Tech. Connelly had three hits and three RBI, while Lopez had two hits and a run scored.
CCU right-hander Jessica Tinsley took home the win in a solid outing. She pitched 6-1/3 innings allowing three runs – one earned – on seven hits.
Amanda McDonald had the loss for the Golden Bears, allowing four runs on four hits in 4-1/3 innings.
NO. 4 POINT PARK 3, NO. 7 CARLOW 0 -- Box Score
In a pitcher's duel which produced just three runs and 10 combined hits, Point Park kept their season alive with the 3-0 victory.
The Pioneers plated three runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth to seal the victory. Amber Cook had an RBI single, Jessica Beitler had an RBI double and Kim Corcoran collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Point Park starter Katie Tarr and reliever Tiffany Edwards combined to toss a gem. Tarr took home the win, scattering just four hits with five strikeouts in five innings. Edwards earned a save after pitching a pair of perfect innings.
The Celtics pitched three different arms with Alysa Fairman taking the loss. She allowed three runs on four hits in 4-1/3 innings allowing four free passes.
Nicole Hall and Annamarie Osiecki pitched the final 1-2/3 innings allowing just two hits.
NO. 1 RIO GRANDE 8, NO. 3 MIDWAY 2 -- Box Score
The Eagles held a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the third inning, but the top-seeded RedStorm battled back by scoring three runs in the third and four runs in the fourth en route to the 8-2 victory.
Mallory Powell had a big game at the plate for the RedStorm, going 2-for-4 with five RBI to go with two runs scored. She hit a go ahead three-run home run in the third.
Kelly Fuchs and Kelsey Conkey had two hits apiece with two runs, while Carly Skeese had an RBI in the win.
Kacee Jenkins turned in a complete game for the RedStorm allowing two runs – one earned – on six hits.
Alyssa Yates was dealt with the loss for Midway after allowing four runs on eight hits in three innings. Mallory Kruzich pitched 2/3 innings allowing four runs – one earned – on three hits. Hannah Poynter pitched the final 2-1/3 innings allowing one hit.
NO. 4 POINT PARK 3, NO. 6 CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN 2 -- Box Score
Cincinnati Christian struck first with a run in the first, but the Pioneers responded with one in the bottom of the first before taking the lead for good with two in the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the third, Kim Corcoran had an RBI single, while Brittany Zeigler picked up an RBI when she reached on a fielder's choice. Amber Cook collected the RBI in the first inning for the Pioneers.
The Eagles were led by Michayla Barga, Emma Kawaiaea and Isabella Manuel who each had two hits apiece. Kawaiaea and Kelsey Warman had the only two runs batted in for Cincinnati Christian.
Ashley Iagnemma picked up the win allowing just two runs on nine hits in five innings to go with five strikeouts. Tiffany Edwards had her second save of the day after pitching two perfect innings.