Box Score HARDEEVILLE, S.C. — (BOX SCORE) Fourth-seeded University of Rio Grande was at the brink of defeat on Monday afternoon but the RedStorm scored three runs in the seventh inning to complete the 4-3 comeback win over top-seeded Campbellsville.
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Starting pitcher Victoria Decker (18-4) recorded two quick outs in the top of the seventh inning and her team leading, 3-1, but Rio Grande did not give in.
Brittany Walk reached base on a bunt and the floodgates started to open with four consecutive singles after that. Tayler Arndt picked up the key hit for Rio Grande – a bases loaded, two-RBI single to left scoring Walk and Cheyenne Hamaker.
Ariel Roder then singled off the glove of a diving Jacqueline Roof, scoring Kim Rollins and the RedStorm took a 4-3 lead.
Rio Grande starting pitcher, Jenna Jones (14-6) sat the Lady Tigers down one-two-three in the bottom half of the inning to pull the upset for URG.
Campbellsville (34-9) will now have to come all the way out of the consolation bracket and play possibly two extra games if its season will continue after the NAIA Opening Round. The Lady Tigers will now face Indiana Wesleyan in the first elimination game on Tuesday, May 12 at 2 p.m. ET. The game can be watched – HERE.
Rio Grande (33-14) will now face two-seed University of South Carolina Beaufort on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET for a spot in the championship series.
To download the bracket, click HERE.
Arndt led the RedStorm with three RBIs. The first came in the opening inning after a 1:30 lightening delay, scoring Jessi Robinson. Roder had the other RBI for Rio Grande.
Campbellsville scored a run in the first inning and then another two in the second inning. The two runs in the second started with a two-out walk by Kennedy Shutter, followed by consecutive singles by Roof and Rebecca Miller pushing CU ahead, 3-1.
Out of the seven combined runs that were scored, five of those rally's started with two outs and nobody on base for either team.
Roof and Miller led the way for CU with two hits and fellow freshman Brianna Scott and junior Destiney Taul followed with one.
You can follow the Lady Tigers throughout the NAIA Opening Round at the CU Tournament Page - HERE.