Story Courtesy of University of Rio Grande Athletics
MARION, Ind. - Madi Ogden limited the nation's top hitting team to just one hit, while helping her own cause with a run-scoring single in the University of Rio Grande's 2-0 win over Madonna (Mich.) University, Wednesday afternoon, in the Marion Bracket of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round at Sue Bowman Field.
The 25th-ranked and third-seeded RedStorm improved to 46-10 with the victory and earned a berth to Thursday's 11 a.m. championship against No. 5 seed Reinhardt (Ga.) University.
Rio would need to defeat the Eagles twice to win the bracket title and earn a berth in next week's NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga. The second and deciding game would be played immediately following Thursday's first game.
Top-seeded and ninth-ranked Madonna, which rallied late for a 7-6 extra inning win over No. 2 seed and tournament host Indiana Wesleyan University in Wednesday's first elimination contest, closed its season at 45-10 with the loss.
The Crusaders, who entered the day with an NAIA-leading team batting average of .396, managed just one hit against Ogden - a leadoff infield single by Ella Thomas in the third inning. Ogden, a senior from Williamsburg, Ohio, issued three walks and struck out five en route to her 25th win in 31 decisions and her 14th shutout of the season. She also had a two-out run-scoring hit in the sixth inning to add an insurance run to the RedStorm's winning effort.
Freshman Delana Landefeld (Williamsport, OH) reached on a one-out single and moved to second on a two-out hit by sophomore Maddie Engler (Crestline, OH), setting the stage for Ogden's RBI single.
Rio Grande's first run came in the second inning when senior Megan Bazler (Portsmouth, OH) led off with a single, moved to third on a double by sophomore Nigella Reck (Covington, OH) and scored on a single to right by Madison Brentlinger (Indian Lake, OH).
Bazler and Landefeld both finished with two hits in the victory.
Camille Oyer started and suffered just her second loss in 18 decisions for Madonna, allowing three hits and a run in one-plus innings.