Racers Sweep Rio in Home Opener

LIMA, OH - In an early season home matchup, UNOH (4-5) battled with (RV) Rio Grande (2-4) to earn their first double-header sweep of the campaign. A tale of two games saw the Racers best the Red Storm 1-0 in a game one pitcher's duel before walking off an offensive showcase 7-6 in game two.

Game 1: UNOH 1 URG 0

Rio Grande had four hits through the first four innings but couldn't produce any runs. UNOH finally broke through in the home fourth with a lead off double by Chloe Goulter (FR/Centerburg, Ohio) for the Racers' first hit of the game. Sydney Feenstra (FR/Liberty Township, Ohio) brought her home with a RBI single but a line out double-play ended the inning with UNOH up 1-0. The Racers mowed through the next ten batters giving up just one hit to take the shutout.

Carlie Hanes (JR/Antwerp, Ohio) pitched her second complete game shutout of the season giving up five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Game 2: UNOH 7 URG 6

After taking care of the Red Storm their first time up, UNOH got started with an error that brought Chloe Goulter to third to lead off the inning. Tess Denning (SO/Dalton, Ohio) scored Goulter with a double up the middle and the Racers were up early. Back-to-back singles scored a second run to put UNOH up 2-0 after one. A lead off double in the third got Rio Grande going as they put up three runs in the inning to take the lead. After Zoe Johnson (SR/Sugarcreek, Ohio) earned a lead off walk, the Racers responded with a Tess Denning homer that put them back up 4-3. An error brought in another and Autumn Pelok (FR/Wauseon, Ohio) scored one more with a RBI single. With UNOH leading 6-3, the next six batters retired in order and the game entered the fifth. The Red Storm scored one in each of the next three innings to tie the game 6-6 going into the bottom of the seventh. Tess Denning was walked with one out and Anna Ankney (SO/Ney, Ohio) finished the job with a RBI double to the center field fence giving the Racers a 7-6 walk off win.

Tess Denning led the way for UNOH going 2-3 at the plate with three RBI. Anna Ankney was 3-4 with a RBI and Dani Keighley (SO/Chesterfield, Michigan) added two RBI.

Karsyn McGlothen (FR/St. Mary's, Ohio) started and went two and a third giving up three runs off three hits with four walks and a strikeout. Jaylyn Mullenax (FR/Bristol, Ohio) went three and two thirds in relief giving up two runs off five hits with three strikeouts. Carlie Hanes tossed the final frame to pick up her second win of the day with one run off one hit and one strikeout.

Next up for the Racers will be THE Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. UNOH will play ten games in five days beginning with (RV) Bellevue March 5 and wrapping up with Carlow March 10.