Point Park reaches 20-win mark with split against Rio Grande (Ohio); take game one 1-0

RIO GRANDE, Ohio – Point Park faced off against the Red Storm of Rio Grande (Ohio) on Saturday with the Pioneers walking away with a split. Game one was a low scoring game as Point Park had the only run of the game to earn the 1-0 win. In game two Rio Grande led Point Park 5-1 going into the seventh but a late comeback by the Pioneers brought them within striking distance but ultimately Point Park fell 5-3.

Game 1:

In game one each pitcher only allowed three hits and the defense behind them had a flawless game but ultimately the Pioneers came out on top due to some timely hitting.

Point Park struck in the fifth inning as Sydnie Reese led off the inning with a deep double to the left field fence to put a runner in scoring position for the Pioneers.

Bella Magliocco then grounded out to second allowing Reese to move over to third base.

With Reese standing on third base, senior Hayley O'Neil hit a hard ground ball to the right side to allow Reese to score giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.

Besides a single to right center in the bottom of the fifth for Rio Grande, the Pioneer defense retired the rest of the batters earning them the close 1-0 win.

Jaylyn Mullenax went the distance in the circle for Point Park as she pitched all 7.0 innings giving up only three hits while striking out two.

Reese went 1 for 3 with a run scored while Melanie Taylor and Mia Arndt also went 1 for 3. Hayley O'Neil knocked in the lone RBI in the game.

Game 2:

For game two the Pioneers saw themselves down 5-1 going into the final inning. A late comeback was mounting but ultimately Rio Grande was able to get the third out in the seventh inning to walk away with a 5-3 win.

The Red Storm started the scoring in the bottom of the second as Madison Perry hit a single to right center to score Lexi Carnahan who had reached on error.

Rio Grande then tacked on two more as Caitlyn Brisker tripled to right field to score Megan Bazler who had reached on a single and Perry as well to give the Red Storm a 3-o lead.

Point Park put themselves on the board in the third as back-to-back singles by Remi Koi and Melanie Taylor put two runners on for Mia Arndt.

Arndt followed up Koi and Taylor with a single of her own to score Koi cutting Rio Grande's lead down to two.

Rio Grande extended their lead again in the bottom of the fourth as a triple by Brisker and a single by Boo Sturgill brought in two runs making it 5-1 in favor of the Red Storm.

Point Park did not go out quiet though as they mounted a comeback in the top of the seventh.

Bre Pies led the inning off with a single down the right field line to put a runner on for the Pioneers with no outs. Mackenzie Moore entered the game to pinch run for Pies.

Hayley O'Neil then hit a single to the shortstop to advance Moore and put another runner on base for the Pioneers.

Following a pop out in the infield, Taylor hit a one-out single to right center to score Moore and advanced O'Neil to third.

Rio Grande went to the bullpen following Taylor's single where they brought in Kali Brickman in relief for Sydney Campolo.

Following the pitching change, Mara Iagnemma hit into a fielder's choice that allowed O'Neil cutting the Red Storm's lead to two.

Point Park was unfortunately unable to push any more runs across allowing the Red Storm to walk away with a 5-3 win.

Savannah Lee was tagged with the loss going all 7.0 innings allowing 12 hits, five runs with only two being earned, and striking out five.

Melanie Taylor led the Pioneer offense going 3 for 4 with one RBI.

Following the split, Point Park moves to 20-18 overall and 13-13 in conference play while Rio Grande moves to 26-16 overall and 18-10 in conference play.

Point Park's next game will be on Monday as Point Park faces off with Shawnee State (Ohio) in another River States Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm ET.