SOFTBALL: Big first inning give Rio first victory

It was a long time coming, but the timing was right.

On Senior Night, Rio's softball team hammered 12 first-inning runs to win its first game of the season 16-6 over Fall River in five innings.

"Our seniors were excited," Rio coach Jennifer Prochnow said. "It was our last home game for them. We hit the ball well, put it in play and made Fall River earn the outs."

Jamie Bender struck out four in a complete-game win.

The Vikings (1-12, 1-12 Trailways South) benefitted from a big first inning where they got contributions across the lineup.

Senior Casey Moon led off with a single before Emily Borde and Amber Schmidt reached to load the bases.

Senior Danielle Kielhofer's then hit a two-run single to put Rio on the board. Senior Sara Deane added an RBI single two batters later and the Vikings' offensive barrage continued.

Fall River (2-11, 2-10) starter Rachael Dauman lasted just 1/3 of an inning.

"We just chipped away," said Prochnow of the first inning. "They went up there and were ready to hit the ball. It was an all-around great game."

It was greater considering the Vikings' first win came with the seniors playing their final regular-season home game.

Rio's three seniors are Kielhofer, Moon and Deane.

The Vikings have one more regular-season game, a make-up contest at Dodgeland at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Rio then begins WIAA Regional play as it travels to Randolph for a 5 p.m. game Thursday.

Randolph is seeded No. 3 while the Vikings earned a No. 5 seed.

RIO 16, FALL RIVER 6 (5)

Fall River ...................... 130      02 —   6    8   3

Rio ................................ (12)11   02 — 16  12  3

Pitchers — Bender (W); R. Dauman (L) Smith (1). SO leaders — Smith 5, Bender 4.

Leading hitters — Koenig (FR) 2x3, K. Dauman 2x3, Deane (R) 3x3, Moon (R) 3x5, Kielhofer (R) 2x4, Bender 2x3. 2B — R. Dauman, Moon. 3B — Schmidt.