KENNEDY TWP, Pa. – The Point Park University softball team got an important win today against the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) splitting the doubleheader with the Red Storm. Point Park fell in the first game 3-0 as Rio Grande pitcher Madison Ogden shut down the Pioneers offense. In game two Point Park flipped the script as the offense ignited for 11 hits and five runs to beat Rio Grande 5-1. With the win today Point Park has won three of the last four games against Rio Grande at Fairhaven Park.

Game 1:

Game one of the doubleheader was a pitcher dual as neither Point Park's pitcher Jaylyn Mullenax or Rio Grande's Madison Ogden gave up a run in the first four innings.

In the top of the fifth inning the Red Storm's offense started to pick up. Peyton Young started the inning with a single where she then advanced to second on an error in centerfield. Madison Perry then had a single of her own to put two runners on for Caitlyn Brisker.

With two outs, Brisker hit a single that got through the infield to score Perry for the first run of the game. The Pioneers were able to get out of the inning without any other damage. 

Rio Grande came through again in the sixth inning with their final run of the game. Pitcher Madison Ogden ripped a double to the fence to start the inning.

With Ogden standing on second, Gabby Adams smacked a double of her own scoring Ogden. This run was the final run to score the rest of the game.

Point Park had a couple of opportunities to score in the game but were never able to capitalize as the Pioneers left six runners on the base.

Rio Grande's Madison Ogden (7-3) picked up the win only allowing three hits in a complete game effort while picking up 12 strikeouts in the game.

Jaylyn Mullenax pitched the entire game in the circle for the Pioneers giving up seven hits and two runs. Mullenax picked up three strikeouts in the effort.

Senior Mara Iagnemma led the Pioneers offense picking up two of the three hits for the Pioneers. Iagnemma went 2 for 2 on the day picking up a walk as well. The Pioneers other lone hit came from junior Savannah Lee. 

Game 2:

Unlike in game one, the Pioneers offense turned up for game 2. Point Park started scoring right out the gate as Melanie Taylor started the inning with a single. Mara Iagnemma then put down a sacrifice bunt down to move Taylor to second.

With one out in the inning, Savannah Lee stepped up and ripped a double to the fence to score Taylor from second. Going into the top of the second the Pioneers led the Red Storm 1-0.

Point Park kept the offense going in the second inning as Hayley O'Neil started the inning with a single. Remi Koi then layed down a sacrifice bunt that allowed O'Neil to advance to second. 

Rio's defense made their first error of the game as Taylor reached first on an error by the third basemen to allow O'Neil to score extending the lead to 2-0.

Point Park scored in their third straight inning as they plated another run in the bottom of the third. With back-to-back hits by Sydnie Reese and Kristyna Mala, O'Neil was in the box next for the Pioneers.

With two outs, O'Neil picked up her second hit in the game with a single through the infield to score Reese from third making the score 3-0.

The Pioneers had their biggest inning in the fourth inning as they scored their final two runs of the game. Remi Koi started the inning off with a single followed up by a single by Iagnemma. Lee picked up her second hit of the day with a single to the outfield to score both Iagnemma and Koi making it 5-0 in favor of Point Park.

Rio Grande did not go out quietly as they erased the shutout in the fifth inning. Following an clutch double play by Reese and Mala, Gabby Adams stepped up to the plate.

With two outs, Gabby Adams blasted a solo homerun over the left field fence to erase the shutout for Lee. Adams solo shot provided the Red Storm with their only run of the game.

Point Park's defense locked down the rest of the game and they were able to walk away with a 5-1 win over the Red Storm for their third win at home against Rio Grande in the last four meetings between the two teams in Pittsburgh.

Savannah Lee threw a complete game giving up 12 hits but only one run on the homer by Adams. Lee moved to 4-4 on the year.

On the offensive end of things the Pioneers had seven different players register a hit with four players having a multi-hit game. Lee helped herself as she went 2 for 4 at the plate with three RBIs. Reese and Mala went 2 for 4, and O'Neil went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. The other Point Park players to pick up hits were Taylor, Iagnemma, and Koi.

With the win the Pioneers move to 6-8 overall and 2-4 in River States Conference play. Point Park plays another River States Conference East Division doubleheader tomorrow against WVU Tech. The doubleheader will begin at 12:00 pm ET at Fairhaven Park in Kennedy Township.