Grenadiers Win Two Elimination Games, Advance to Final Day of RSC Tournament

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.V. - After dropping game one against SMWC in the 2023 RSC Championship Tournament, the IU Southeast softball team defeated Midway 5-4 and Point Park 1-0 to advance to the final day of the RSC Championship Tournament.

IU Southeast, after falling to SWMC 7-2, played Midway in the first elimination game. Midway got on the board first in the contest, taking a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third. An RBI single and a 2-RBI ground-rule double gave the Eagles a 4-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the third, Issy Wright lined a ball to right field for an inside the park home run after the defender was unable to come up with a diving catch. Erin Templeman delivered an RBI single to right field to bring IU Southeast within two at 4-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, IU Southeast tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when a Macie Zink batted ball to right field fell in for a 2-RBI triple.

With the game tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Cassi Roman launched a solo home run to left field to give IU Southeast a 5-4 walk off win.

McKenzie Rice started the game for IU Southeast, throwing the first three innings. Brooklyn Gibbs got the win for the Grenadiers, giving up just two hits in four scoreless innings of work.

Five different Grenadier hitters had two hits in the win. Macie Zink tripled, and Issy Wright and Cassi Roman homered in the win. Hayley McFarling had the lone stolen base for the Grenadiers.

IU Southeast would go on to play Point Park in a second elimination game. Both teams were held scoreless until the fourth inning. In the top of the fourth, Erin Templeman led off the inning with a solo home run to left field to give IU Southeast a 1-0 lead.

Madison Wathen shut down the Point Park offense, allowing just three baserunners through the first six innings. IU Southeast headed to the bottom of the seventh with a 1-0 lead.

Point Park led off the seventh inning with two singles and a walk, giving Point Park bases loaded with no outs. Madison Wathen then struck out back-to-back batters to bring the Grenadiers within one out of advancing. With two outs, Wathen got the batter to ground out, securing a 1-0 IU Southeast victory.  

Madison Wathen pitched a complete game shutout for IU Southeast, giving up just five hits while striking out eight. Kendall Brown led the Grenadiers with two hits, including a triple. Erin Templeman drove in the game's lone run with a solo home run. Macie Zink had the only stolen base for the Grenadiers.

IU Southeast moves on to play Rio Grande on Saturday at 10 a.m. The winner goes on to play St. Mary-of-the-Woods in the RSC Championship Tournament Finals.