Saints eliminate RedStorm from Indianapolis Bracket of NAIA Softball Opening Round
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- After having to wait around all day on Wednesday, No. 5 Rio Grande (Ohio) returned to the softball diamond on Thursday and unfortunately saw their season come to an end after suffering an 8-0 loss to No. 5 Aquinas (Mich.) in the Indianapolis Bracket of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round.
The Saints, who improved to 42-14 with the win, pounced on the RedStorm early, scoring three in the first, followed by three more in the second before tacking on two more in the fourth en route to the 8-0 run-rule victory.
Aquinas scored their first run on a wild pitch before Kaelyn Stafford hit a two-run triple to push the lead to 3-0 following the opening frame.
Then in the second, Kim Sosnowski hit a two-run single, and Darrien Roberts hit an RBI single, extending the Saints' lead to 6-0.
Roberts then drove in her second run of the game in the fourth with a sacrifice fly, while Stafford put the game in run-rule territory following an RBI single to make it 8-0.
The RedStorm got a leadoff single in the top of the fifth, but Sophia Pavese got three consecutive strikeouts to secure the 8-0 victory. Pavese allowed just two hits in the win with the other base knock coming off the bat of Caitlyn Brisker.
Madison Ogden was pinned with the loss, allowing five runs – three earned – on three hits in her one inning of work.
The loss ends the season for the RedStorm as they finish with a 35-19 record.