Softball stunned in sweep against hard-hitting Rio Grande

KENNEDY TWP., Pa. --- Carlow University softball lost two River States Conference games to University of Rio Grande (Ohio) at Lind Field Sunday.

Game 1: L, 16-0 (5 inn.)

The RedStorm (18-10, 8-2 RSC) tallied 13 hits in the first game – including a grand slam in the top of the third and two multi-run home runs in the top of the fourth – to defeat the Celtics (6-18, 2-6 RSC) in five innings.

Carlow had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the fourth but could not bring in a run.

Clara Niglio was saddled with the loss after allowing 14 runs (seven earned) on 11 hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 3.2 innings of work.

Megan Pollinger tossed the final 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout. Pollinger also hit 2 for 3 in the effort at the plate.

Rio Grande's Sydney Campolo scattered four hits, struck out three and walked one for the win.

Christen Risner hit Rio Grande's grand slam in the third and a three-run homer in the fourth to lead the RedStorm with seven RBI in the game.

The Celtics committed five errors in the field.

Game 2: L, 10-2

Carlow started the second game with a two-run lead, but the RedStorm did not leave it that way for long.

Hannah Gallagher started the inning with a single, and Pollinger singled to put runners on second and third. Pitcher Morgan Pierce hit a two-out, two run double to right field to bring them both home before Rio Grande ended the inning.

The RedStorm tied it up in the third after scoring two runs on four hits and an error.

Gallagher, Jillian Durst and Pollinger all hit singles to load the bases in the bottom half of the frame, but Rio Grande pitcher Hannah Beers tallied three outs in a row to get them out of the inning.

Pierce got out of her own bases-loaded jam in the fourth to keep Carlow in the game, but Rio Grande retired the Celtics in order in the bottom of the inning.

The RedStorm took the lead in the fifth, scoring four runs on five hits and an error.

A sacrifice fly in the sixth added an insurance run to put Rio Grande up, 7-2, and the RedStorm retired the Celtics in order in the bottom of the frame.

Kayla Sedgwick hit a two-run home run over the right field fence, and an RBI single to centerfield gave Rio Grande a 10-2 advantage in the top of the seventh.

The RedStorm once again retired the Carlow batters in order to secure the win.

Gallagher hit 3 for 4 and Pollinger hit 2 for 3 in the game.

Pierce suffered the loss after allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 17 hits with a strikeout and a walk in 5.1 innings of work.

Amanda Hu pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one run, one hit, one strikeout and one walk.

Sedgwick hit 2 for 4 with three RBI to lead Rio Grande, and Gabby Adams went 2 for 2 with two RBI.

Beers tossed a three-hitter in five innings with four strikeouts to earn the win.

Kali Brickman got the start and pitched two innings, allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout before Beers entered the game.

The Celtics host Alice Lloyd (Ky.) College Monday, April 3 for a 1 p.m. RSC doubleheader at Fairhaven Park.