FRANKFORT, Ky. - Needing to make a late-season push to earn a spot in the River States Conference tournament, Midway softball's chances took a hit with a doubleheader sweep against Indiana Columbus Wednesday.
In both games, which were moved to Kentucky State University due to rain damage at Midway, the Eagles brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning but couldn't make a comeback, losing 10-8 and 4-2.
GAME ONE: IU COLUMBUS 10, MIDWAY 8
The Crimson Pride were three outs away from a run-rule win in the sixth, when Mallory Shelton capped a six-RBI game with a three-run triple that put them ahead 10-2.
But things got tight quickly in the bottom of the inning. The first five batters reached base and the deficit was cut to 10-5 on an RBI single by
Tenley Gilbert and a two-run single by
Ryann Berger.
Sierra Bittner then drove home a run with a groundout before
Kennadi Thompson scored Berger on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt to make it 10-7.
The suspense cranked up further in the bottom of the seventh, when
Payton Baum hit a solo home run to make it 10-8.
With two outs, Gilbert singled to bring Berger to the plate. Midway's best hitter made good contact, but her shot was unfortunately tracked down by Crimson Pride centerfielder Taylor York.
Berger, Bittner and Thompson all had two RBIs, while Berger and Gilbert both scored two runs.
GAME TWO: IU COLUMBUS 4, MIDWAY 2
The offensive momentum carried over into the second game. Gilbert, Berger and Bittner opened the first inning with three straight singles, with Berger driving in Gilbert then scoring on an errant throw.
But after scoring two runs before the Crimson Pride recorded an out, Midway wouldn't score another off of IUC starter Erica Henry.
Midway would put runners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings but Henry escaped both times, ending the game by striking out Baum.
The Eagles fall to 5-15 in the RSC and are in eighth place in the league standings, two games behind Brescia for the final spot in the six-team conference tournament.
IUC, which is in seventh at 7-11, also clinched a tie-breaker over Midway by virtue of a 4-0 head-to-head record.
Midway looks to get back on track Friday with a doubleheader at West Virginia Tech. The first game begins at 2 p.m.
