RedStorm reaches finals of RSC Softball Championship; Grenadiers, WVU Tech remain alive
RSC Sports Information
VIENNA, W.Va. - Top-seeded University of Rio Grande posted a pair of victories on Friday to earn a berth in the championship game of the 2021 River States Conference Softball Championship at Jackson Memorial Park.
The RedStorm (44-13) defeated the overall No. 3 seed Midway University and second-seeded Indiana University Southeast, both by scores of 6-2, to punch their ticket into Saturday's championship first final at 1 p.m.
A second title game, if needed, is slated for 3 p.m.
IU Southeast (43-15), which began its day with an 8-0 mercy rule-shortened win over No. 4 seed Carlow in winner's bracket play, will square off with sixth-seeded West Virginia University Tech (21-22) in Saturday's 10 a.m. opening game to determine Rio Grande's opponent in the finals.
The IU Southeast-WVU Tech winner also will guarantee itself a trip to the opening round of the upcoming NAIA National Championship, given that Rio has already secured a berth to the national tourney as the RSC's regular season champion.
WVU Tech, which dropped its opening game in the tournament to Midway on Thursday night, remained alive with a 12-3 mercy rule-shortened win over Carlow and a 1-0 triumph over No. 5 seed Asbury in Friday's loser's bracket action.
Asbury (20-31), which fell into the loser's bracket with a loss to Carlow in tourney opener on Thursday, eliminated Midway (23-32) with a 16-11 win over the Eagles before being bounced by WVU Tech.
Junior outfielder Taylor Webb fueled both of Rio Grande's victories on Friday, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs batted in against Midway before hitting a pair of two-run home runs in the win over IU Southeast.
The RedStorm hit four home runs altogether against the Grenadiers, with freshman shortstop Caitlyn Brisker and junior third baseman Kenzie Cremeens also going deep.
IU Southeast flexed its own muscles earlier in the day against Carlow, scoring three times in the first inning and pushing across four more markers in the second.
Kelsey Warman went 3-for-3 with a pair of homers and four RBI, while Erin Templeman also homered and drove in two runs.
The home run ball also highlighted WVU Tech's elimination game win over Carlow (16-25-1), with Mackenzie Siersman hitting a pair of two-run shots as part of her 3-for-3 effort at the plate.
The Golden Bears earned the right to stick around for Saturday's action behind a complete game one-hitter thrown by starter Kourtney McNatt in the victory over Asbury.
Tech scored the game's lone run in the top of the seventh inning when Maggie Richards reached on a one-out double and scored two batters later on a throwing error.
The most entertaining game of the day on Friday, though, may have been the Asbury-Midway elimination game.
Asbury built a 10-3 advantage after 3-1/2 innings, but Midway rallied for eight runs in bottom of the fifth to take an 11-10 lead.
Asbury countered with four runs in the sixth to go back in front for good and added a pair of insurance markers in the seventh to set the final score.
Chandler Kelly had three hits and four RBI to lead Asbury in the win, while Lauren Lingafelter went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI for Midway. Taylor Dukate added three hits, including a pair of doubles, and a run batted in a losing cause.
The RSC Game Central presented by Stretch Internet will broadcast live streaming video of all games of the championship. Fans may subscribe for $7.95 per game or $19.99 for the entire tournament. Live stats will be provided through DakStats, as well as part of the live stream.
Fans are permitted to attend the championship. Daily admission price is $6 for adults, $3 for students with ID, $3 for seniors 60 and over. Children under 10 are free.
Masks are required when unable to social distance. Spectators may bring their own chairs and sit outside the fence down the baselines.