TIFFIN, Ohio. — The Parkside Rangers softball team opened its Ohio road trip with a split Saturday afternoon at the Paradiso Athletic Complex, rallying for a 4-2 eight-inning win in game one before falling 9-1 in five innings in game two to Tiffin.

GAME ONE:

Parkside broke through late and got a complete-game gem from Holly Lowenberg in the opener, using two-run innings in both the seventh and eighth to erase a 2-0 deficit and steal a 4-2 win in extra innings.

The Rangers were held scoreless through the first six innings despite putting runners aboard in several spots. Ava Swain singled in the first, Maddie Hernandez singled in the third and fifth, and Parkside created a strong chance in the fifth when Megan Medlin singled, Peyton Klikno reached on an error and stole second, and Mia Johnson walked to load the bases. Tiffin escaped the jam with a double play to keep the Rangers off the board.

Lowenberg kept Parkside within striking distance all afternoon. The junior right-hander navigated traffic in the first inning, stranded multiple runners early and carried a scoreless game into the fifth before Tiffin finally broke through. Marina Koenig opened the inning with a single and later stole second, McKenna Scott walked, and Jessica Miller reached on an error that allowed both runs to score as the Dragons moved in front 2-0.

Parkside finally answered in the top of the seventh. Medlin led off the inning with a solo home run to cut the deficit in half, and Hernandez followed with a single. Klikno added another base hit, Johnson drew her third walk of the game, and Swain came through with an RBI single to bring home Hernandez and tie the game at 2-2.

The Rangers kept the pressure on in the eighth. Reese Valha reached on an error to begin the inning, Medlin followed with a walk, and after one out Klikno reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Johnson worked yet another walk, and then CICI Di Silvio scorched a line drive that was ruled an error by the first baseman but was hit hard enough to squeak its way into rightfied, bringing home both Klikno and Medlin and give Parkside its first lead of the day at 4-2.

That was all Lowenberg needed. She retired the Dragons in order in the bottom of the eighth to finish off the win, going all eight innings while allowing just four hits and two unearned runs. She walked seven and struck out five in a tough, composed effort in the circle.

Parkside finished with seven hits in the win. Medlin led the way by going 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and a walk. Hernandez also had two hits, while Swain went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Klikno added a hit, scored once and stole a base, and Di Silvio was credited with two RBI on the go-ahead play in the eighth. Johnson did not record a hit, but she reached base three times via walk and helped spark the late rally.

Tiffin managed only four hits in the opener, with Jessica Miller driving in both runs. Koenig scored once and stole a base, while Scott and Ella Esterby each drew two walks.

GAME TWO:

The second game looked much different, as Tiffin struck early and never let Parkside settle in on the way to a 9-1 win in five innings.

The Rangers threatened in the top of the first when Di Silvio doubled and Swain walked, but Tiffin stranded both runners and answered immediately in the bottom half. Tori McPherson doubled to lead things off, Jessica Miller walked, Ella Esterby singled in the first run, and Reagan Mengerink followed with an RBI single to put the Dragons ahead 2-0.

Tiffin added four more runs in the third. Miller opened the inning with a solo home run, Esterby singled, and after a pitching change Lexi Key doubled home a run before Jadyn Bassi lined a two-run double to stretch the lead to 6-0.

The Dragons kept rolling in the fourth. McPherson walked and later scored, Esterby walked and stole second, and Mengerink delivered a two-run double. Tara Gall added an RBI single later in the inning as Tiffin pushed the margin to 9-0.

Parkside broke through in the fifth to avoid the shutout. Megan Medlin singled, Peyton Klikno added a base hit, Johnson walked to load the bases, and Di Silvio lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Medlin for the Rangers' lone run.

Parkside was limited to three hits in game two. Di Silvio had the team's only extra-base hit with a first-inning double and also drove in the lone run. Medlin and Klikno each singled, while Johnson, Swain and Isabel Aranda all drew walks.

Ellie Curtis got the start for Parkside and worked 2.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits. Melanie Andrysiak pitched the final 1.2 innings in relief. Tiffin finished with 10 hits in the win, getting three-hit, three-RBI production from Mengerink. Esterby went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI, Miller homered and drove in one, and Bassi added a two-run double.

Parkside continues its Ohio road trip Sunday, March 15, with a doubleheader at Findlay. Game one is set for 11 a.m. CT, with game two scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

To keep up with the Rangers, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.