The visiting Red Storm (18-12, 11-5 AMC), who came into the day’s action with a chance to still tie for the conference regular-season title, got off to a quick start in the first game when Leah Hamman tripled in the top of the first inning with one out and later scored on an error to give Rio Grande a 1-0 lead.

The Red Storm tacked on three runs in the top of the second inning as an error with two outs allowed two runs to score and then Shannon Abbott and Amanda Stevens executed a double steal to perfection with runners at first and third as Stevens scored to give Rio Grande a 4-0 lead.

The Lady Cougars (16-14, 11-7 AMC) finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when junior outfielder Leslie Banichar (left) singled in junior shortstop Tasha Konkle with two outs after Konkle had led off the inning with a single.

MVNU took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Lady Cougars sent eight batters to the plate and took advantage of two errors by the Red Storm defense. Banichar and freshman outfielder MacKenzie Shaw each drove in one run apiece in the inning, while senior third baseman Karly Clay had a two-out, two-run single.

After Rio Grande tied the score at 5-5 in the top of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Kaylyn Heading after an error extended the inning, MVNU went right back to work in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Lady Cougars plated three runs to regain the lead 8-5. Junior outfielder Lauretta Wallace had an RBI-triple, junior second baseman Staci Graham singled in a run, and another run scored on another error by the Red Storm.

The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning when a single by junior catcher Caitlin Murphy, a double by junior first baseman Michelle Gastin, and a walk to Konkle loaded the bases before a wild pitch put the Lady Cougars on top 9-5.

Senior right-hander Candace White (15-9) (right) notched the win for MVNU as she allowed just six hits, two walks, and five unearned runs while striking out five batters.

Allison Mills (6-6) took the loss on the mound for Rio Grande as she gave up 13 hits, three walks, and nine runs (seven earned) over six innings with two strikeouts.

Offensively, Banichar led the Lady Cougars by going 3-for-4, while Murphy and Konkle both had two hits each. Hamman and Nicole Sargent had two hits apiece for the Red Storm.

The second game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when MVNU was able to push across a run for a 1-0 lead. Senior designated player Laura Morris lined a one-out triple to right center and later came around to score on a wild pitch.

Rio Grande knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI-single by Hamman, but the Red Storm ran themselves out of the inning by trying to score from second on a bunt that resulted in an inning-ending double play.

Then, in the top of the seventh inning, Rio Grande took a 3-1 lead as the first run of the inning came in on an error. Lindsay Stevens followed by ripping an RBI-double to right center as the Red Storm appeared poised to win the second game and split the doubleheader.

However, with their backs against the wall, the Lady Cougars plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as junior first baseman Michelle Gaston drew a bases-loaded walk with one out. Konkle followed with an RBI-single to centerfield to knot the score at 3-3, but Clay was thrown out at the plate on a close play as MVNU just missed winning the game.

After the Red Storm were retired in the top of the eighth inning, the Lady Cougars went right back to work in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, Banichar reached on an infield single and promptly stole second base. After sophomore second baseman Kristin Kurelic walked, Shaw (left) lined a 1-2 pitch into rightfield as Banichar raced home with the winning run as MVNU prevailed 4-3.

White picked up her second win of the day as she went the distance on the mound by scattering eight hits, one walk, and three runs over eight innings with two strikeouts.

Lindsay Stevens made her first start of the season for Rio Grande and she worked six-plus innings and allowed four hits, six walks, and three runs with two strikeouts. Mills tossed the final 1.1 innings and suffered her second loss of the day as she gave up four hits, two walks, and one run while striking out one batter.

Kurelic went 2-for-2 to pace the Lady Cougars’ offense, while Heading had two hits for the Red Storm.

With the doubleheader sweep and two losses by Point Park (Pa.) University to Notre Dame College, MVNU is right on the threshold of qualifying for the five-team AMC Tournament. The Lady Cougars will get in if Shawnee State loses any of its six remaining conference games including a doubleheader with MVNU on Monday in Portsmouth. The Lady Cougars would also get into the tournament if Walsh University loses either of its two remaining games or if the Red Storm drops all four of their remaining games.

Meanwhile, MVNU will be back in action on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. when the Lady Cougars will host Geneva (Pa.) College in a best-of-three series. Following the second game, the five MVNU seniors will be honored for their contributions to the program over the past four years.