MVNU (12-6, 3-3 AMC South) broke a scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to go in front 2-0 on sophomore outfielder Leslie Banichar’s (left) two-out, two-run double to centerfield.

The Lady Cougars’ lead grew to 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning when sophomore designated player Staci Graham singled and was sacrificed to second by sophomore catcher Caitlin Murphy. Following a single by junior first baseman Kylie Rupert and another out, junior outfielder Whitney Clark lined a single to rightfield to plate Graham.

The host Redwomen (11-7, 5-1 AMC South) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning with a steal of home to make it 3-1. Then, Rio Grande knotted the score at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI-double by Leah Hamman and a run-scoring single by Brittany Creviston.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the seventh inning. The Redwomen used a bunt single and two walks to load the bases with two outs. Kaylyn Heading lined a walk-off single to rightfield to give Rio Grande the 4-3 victory.

Junior right-hander Candace White (5-4) suffered the loss for MVNU as she gave up nine hits, three walks, and four runs over 6.2 innings with five strikeouts.

Miranda Laws (7-3) notched the win for the Redwomen as she scattered seven hits, one walk, and three runs over seven innings with four strikeouts.

Banichar led the Lady Cougars’ offense by going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Heading went 3-for-4 to pace Rio Grande, while Hamman and Jessica Ross both had two hits.

MVNU bounced right back from the tough first-game loss by taking an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the second game. Murphy’s two-out, two-run double to left center after an error by the Redwomen extended the inning put the Lady Cougars on top.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth inning when Rio Grande used four hits to knot the score at 2-2. Heading had an RBI-double, and Amber Bowman added a run-scoring single.

The score remained tied at 2-2 through seven innings and on into extra innings. In the top of the ninth inning, sophomore shortstop Tasha Konkle (right) drove in Rupert with the go-ahead run with a two-out single to centerfield. That run would hold up as MVNU prevailed 3-2.

Senior right-hander Kristin Eyerman (7-1) earned the victory on the mound as she scattered 11 hits, four walks, and two runs over nine innings with three strikeouts.

Sophia Young (4-4) took the loss for the Redwomen as she allowed eight hits, two walks, and three runs over nine innings with four strikeouts.

Sophomore second baseman Kristin Kurelic paced the Lady Cougars with two hits, while Ross and Erin Ratliff both went 3-for-4 for Rio Grande.

MVNU will return to action on Tuesday when the Lady Cougars will host Shawnee State University in another AMC South Division twinbill at 3:00 p.m. These games will be carried live over the internet on http://wnzr.fm/sports.html.