The IU Columbus Crimson Pride wrapped up their final regular season road trip this weekend as they prepare for a historic milestone in program history. Despite finishing the weekend with a 1-3 record, the Crimson Pride have already secured their first-ever berth in the River States Conference (RSC) tournament, marking a significant achievement for the young program. The weekend's games offered valuable experience against conference competition as the team prepares for postseason play.
Game #1: IU Columbus 5, Shawnee State 3
The IU Columbus Crimson Pride started their weekend road trip with an impressive victory against Shawnee State on Saturday afternoon. Izzy Johnson led the offensive charge, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and adding a stolen base. The Crimson Pride's early offense set the tone as Renee Lecher delivered a clutch two-RBI single in the second inning to give IU Columbus a 2-0 lead.
After Shawnee State tied the game with Emily Moore's two-run homer in the third, the Crimson Pride showed resilience by retaking the lead in the fifth when Justice Cash drove in Johnson with a groundout. Though Shawnee State managed to tie the game again in the bottom of the fifth, IU Columbus delivered when it mattered most.
In the decisive seventh inning, Johnson scored on an error by Shawnee State's first baseman, giving the Crimson Pride a 4-3 advantage. Mallory Shelton then provided an insurance run with an RBI single to bring home Taylor York.
Erica Henry went the distance in the circle, throwing a complete game while scattering 10 hits and only allowing 3 earned runs – an outstanding performance that helped the Crimson Pride improve to 17-26 overall and 13-16 in conference play.
Game #2: Shawnee State 12, IU Columbus 4
In the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, IU Columbus showed their fighting spirit but ultimately fell to Shawnee State 12-4. After falling behind 3-0 through three innings, the Crimson Pride unleashed an impressive four-run rally in the fourth to take a brief 4-3 lead.
Hannah Taylor sparked the comeback with an RBI double to score Renee Lecher. Andi Burkhart and Elyse Goad followed with RBI singles, and Izzy Johnson capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to give IU Columbus the lead.
However, Shawnee State responded immediately, tying the game in the bottom of the fourth on an unearned run. The Bears then pulled away with four runs in the fifth and another four in the sixth, taking advantage of 12 walks issued by Crimson Pride pitching.
Despite the loss, there were positive takeaways for IU Columbus. Andi Burkhart and Gracie Holok each collected two hits, and the Crimson Pride's offense showed potential with eight hits against Shawnee's Emma Wargel.
Game #1: Rio Grande 8, IU Columbu 0
The Crimson Pride struggled to generate offense in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against conference powerhouse Rio Grande. Despite collecting three hits, IU Columbus couldn't push any runs across against Rio's standout pitcher Madi Ogden, who recorded eight strikeouts in six innings of work.
Rio Grande's six-run second inning proved to be the difference in the game. Defensive miscues by the Crimson Pride opened the floodgates. Six runs were unearned, highlighting how costly the defensive lapses were.
Mallory Shelton, Renee Lecher, and Lily Culp each managed hits for IU Columbus, but the team couldn't string together consecutive hits against Ogden. Erica Henry took the loss in the circle.
Game #2: Rio Grande 5, IU Columbus 0
The Crimson Pride's weekend concluded with another shutout loss to Rio Grande, despite a stronger defensive showing. IU Columbus collected five hits but couldn't capitalize, leaving six runners on base throughout the game.
Taylor York, Lily Culp, Alexia Heafner, Emma Chism, and Gracie Holok each recorded hits for the Crimson Pride, but facing Rio Grande's Hannah Beers proved challenging as she recorded seven strikeouts in a complete game shutout.
Rio Grande built their lead with three runs in the second inning on consecutive RBI hits from Kayla Sedgwick, Maddie Engler, and Madi Ogden. They added two insurance runs in the fourth on Megan Bazler's two-RBI single.
Looking Ahead: History Awaits in the RSC Tournament
The Crimson Pride now turn their attention to the program's first-ever appearance in the River States Conference Tournament, which begins Thursday in South Charleston, West Virginia. This historic playoff berth represents a significant milestone for IU Columbus Softball as they prepare to compete in the double-elimination tournament at a neutral site.
The tournament draw and opponent details will be announced soon, but the Crimson Pride will use the coming days to prepare for what promises to be a memorable experience for the program. The team's mix of timely hitting from players like Izzy Johnson and Renee Lecher, combined with Erica Henry's ability to deliver strong performances in the circle, gives IU Columbus confidence heading into the postseason.
No matter the outcome, this 2025 squad has already etched their names in program history by reaching the conference tournament, establishing a foundation for future IU Columbus teams to build upon.
