Pomeroys rally late, advance to championship; RedStorm, Grenadiers remain in title chase
RSC Sports Information
KOKOMO, Ind. - St. Mary-of-the-Woods College rallied for five runs in the seventh inning to post a come-from-behind 7-6 win over the University of Rio Grande in the winner's bracket final of the 2022 River States Conference Softball Championship, Friday evening, at Championship Park.
The Pomeroys, who were the No. 1 seed from the West Division in the six-team, double-elimination tournament, improved their season record to 28-12 with the win and punched their ticket to Saturday's championship first final against the survivor of Saturday's loser's bracket final between Rio Grande - the East Division No. 1 seed and the overall top seed - and Indiana University Southeast.
The RedStorm (38-12) and the Grenadiers will square off at 10 a.m., with the winner facing SMWC at 1 p.m. A second championship final, if needed, would be played at 3 p.m.
IU Southeast (25-24), the West Division No. 2 seed, remained alive with a pair of wins in Friday's loser's bracket action.
Friday's schedule began with a pair of winner's bracket contests, with Rio Grande defeating IU Southeast, 6-2, and St. Mary-of-the-Woods topping Midway University, 6-1.
The Pomeroys scored four times in the home third to break open a tight affair with the Eagles. Lyric Krause had two hits, including a double, and drove in four runs in the winning effort.
Rio Grande scored twice in the third inning to snap a scoreless tie before adding on four more markers in the sixth inning to pull away. Taylor Webb had two hits and two RBI to pace the RedStorm.
A pair of elimination games followed, with Point Park University rallying to oust Midway, 4-2, and IU Southeast dispatching Ohio Christian University, 10-6.
Point Park scored three times in the seventh inning, with the tying and go-ahead runs crossing as a result of a two-out throwing error.
IU Southeast jumped to a 4-0 third-inning lead and never trailed. Hayley McFarling went 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Grenadiers, while Brooklyn Gibbs had three hits and drove in a run.
St. Mary-of-the-Woods then recorded its dramatic win over Rio Grande, while IU Southeast knocked off Point Park, 8-4, in the final elimination game of the day.
The Pomeroys trailed 6-2 going to the seventh inning and twice were down to their final strike, but came off the mat to take the lead. Lyric Krause capped the rally with a go-ahead two-run home run and finished 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
IU Southeast bolted to a 7-2 lead after three innings and never looked back. Lindsey Nelson had three hits and drove in a run for the Grenadiers, while Gibbs finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
Ellie Jackman also doubled and drove in two runs in the victory for IUS.
The RSC Game Central presented by Stretch Internet will broadcast live streaming video of all games of the championship.
Subscriptions are available for $7.95 per game or $19.99 for the entire tournament.
Live statistics will be provided on PrestoStats.