Grenadiers Clinch RSC Regular Season Championship with Win Over Midway

MIDWAY, Ky. - The IU Southeast softball team clinched the River States Conference Regular Season Championship with a win in game two of the doubleheader at Midway on Saturday. Midway won game one 4-3, but the Grenadiers bounced back with a 6-2 win in game two to earn an automatic berth in the upcoming NAIA Tournament.

IU Southeast got on the board in the top of the first as Kendall Brown scored from second on a fielder's choice. The Grenadiers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when Erin Templeman singled to left field, driving in Alaina Winzeler. The Grenadiers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Savannah Gaither.

Midway was held scoreless through 6.2 innings, but the Eagles fought back. A bases-clearing triple and an RBI single gave Midway a walk-off 4-3 victory.

Madison Wathen threw a complete game in the loss, striking out nine in 6.2 innings. Autumn Oehlstrom led IU Southeast with two hits. Erin Templeman and Savannah Gaither each drove in a run for the Grenadiers.

Game two saw both teams remain scoreless until the top of the third. Cassi Roman doubled down the left field line to score Autumn Oehlstrom and give IU Southeast a 1-0 lead. Erin Templeman followed with an RBI double to make it 2-1. Katie Templeman delivered the third RBI hit of the inning for IU Southeast, singling home Alaina Winzeler to make it 3-0 Grenadiers.

Midway answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to narrow the IU Southeast lead to 3-2. IU Southeast responded with hits by Katie Templeman and Brynlea Bennett in the top of the fifth to extend the lead back to three runs at 5-2.

Savannah Gaither singled to left center in the top of the seventh to drive in Macie Zink and extend the Grenadier advantage to 6-2. Brooklyn Gibbs closed the door in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the RSC Regular Season Championship for IU Southeast.

Brooklyn Gibbs threw her fifth straight complete game in the win. Gibbs allowed just three hits and two runs in seven innings of work while striking out eight.

Seven different Grenadiers had two hits in the contest, and five different Grenadiers drove in a run. Autumn Oehlstrom, Cassi Roman, and Erin Templeman doubled for IU Southeast, and Macie Zink added a triple in the win.

IU Southeast finishes the regular season 30-15 overall and 22-6 in conference play. Their next action will be in the RSC Tournament next weekend.