April 12, 2009

By Mark Williams---Rio Grande Sports Information Director

RIO GRANDE, Ohio -- Two words can describe Anna Smith’s performances on Saturday (April 11) afternoon as she led the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) RedStorm softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Point Park, by scores of 8-0 and 3-0, at Stanley Evans Field.  The two words are perfection and dominance.  Smith fired back-to-back no-hitters against the Pioneers.  The first game was a perfect game in five innings and Smith faced one over the minimum in game two as Point Park had one runner reach base on an error.

The perfect games follow up a one-hitter and a two-hitter that she authored last weekend over Carlow.

Rio Grande (13-9, 6-2 AMC) also executed the short game to near perfection, squeezing in three runs in the first game.  Rio Grande had 10 hits and the first two in the batting order were perfect as senior second baseman Shannon Abbott (Hamilton, OH) went 3-for-3 with three runs scored with an RBI and three stolen bases and junior leftfielder Leah Hamman  (Lexington, OH) was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two doubles and three RBI’s.

Senior centerfielder Amanda Stevens (Bellefontaine, OH) was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, sophomore shortstop Amber Bowman (Hebron, OH) went 1-for-3 with two RBI’s and junior catcher Kaylyn Heading (Hilliard, OH) was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Smith (9-5), the Ross, OH native, fanned six in overpowering the Point Park (17-7, 6-4 AMC) bats.

Abbie Heigel (6-5) took the loss for the Pioneers.  She allowed 10 hits and eight runs (five earned) in four innings with three strikeouts.

Smith continued her dominance in the second game.  The only Point Park base runner came in the second inning when Christy Schroeder hit a hot smash right at Stevie Sharp at third base, the ball caromed to Smith, who narrowly missed getting her out at first base.

Smith fanned two in the second game.  She has 102 strikeouts on the season, compared to only 11 walks in 87 innings of pitching.

Rio produced seven hits in the second game.  Hamman was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two stolen bases and Smith helped her own cause, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. 

Freshman rightfielder Marissa Lennox (Gahanna, OH) got the scoring started for the RedStorm with an RBI double that scored Smith in the second inning. 

Kristen Zelenka (7-2) deserved a better fate for Point Park, as she took the loss.  She pitched six innings, allowed seven hits, three runs (two earned), struck out six and walked only one.

Rio Grande head coach David Pyles talked about Smith’s recent dominance in the pitcher’s circle.  “My goodness, she’s been that way for the last several outings, if she keeps throwing like this and we can give her run support like we did today, who knows what might happen here,” he said.  “I’m pretty excited about the way she’s looking.”

“I think, yesterday, they (Point Park) put up pretty good numbers against Shawnee and Shawnee, traditionally, has pretty good pitching,” Pyles added.  “I don’t know if maybe, they were a little bit road-weary, today, or Anna was just that dominant.”

Rio Grande will step out of conference on Monday, hosting Ohio Valley University at 3 p.m.  Stretch Internet will have play-by-play coverage beginning at approximately 2:50 p.m.