March 21, 2010

RedStorm baseball sweeps WVU Tech; Sullivan fires no-hitter

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm baseball team finished off a four-game sweep of West Virginia Tech on Sunday afternoon by winning both ends of a doubleheader, 13-0 and 9-5. History was made in game one as junior righthander Desmond Sullivan threw his second career no-hitter for the RedStorm in the game one victory.

Sullivan, a native of Scarborough, ONT, improved to 3-0 on the season. Sullivan struck out eight batters and walked only two in the five-inning run-rule game. It's the first no-hitter for Rio Grande since Sullivan blanked Notre Dame College, April 5 of last season. 

"Desmond was lights out," said Rio Grande head coach Brad Warnimont. "Eight strikeouts, firing a no-hitter in that first game, he threw outstanding."

Sullivan was the pitching star and senior third baseman Tyler Schunk (Cincinnati, OH) was the hitting star. He was a perfect hitting 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, three RBI's and three runs scored. 

The RedStorm (23-4, 7-1 MSC) had 11 hits in the first game triumph. Junior first baseman Francisco Ramirez (Columbus, OH) had a nice game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and two RBI's. Junior leftfielder Michael Lynch (Cleveland, OH) was 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI, senior centerfielder Ryan Yakura (Pickering, ONT) was 1-for-1 with a run scored and an RBI and freshman Mark Parent (New Albany, OH) delivered a two-run single. 

Senior rightfielder John Storey (Wheelersburg, OH) was 1-for-2 and junior second baseman Christian Frias (Salinas, PR) and junior Brandon Lay (Columbus, OH) added RBI's for the RedStorm. 

In game two, freshman southpaw Ryan Robertson (Waverly, OH) stayed unbeaten on the season. Robertson (6-0) pitched 4 1/3 innings, yielding 10 hits and four runs with a pair of strikeouts and one walk.

Sophomore righthander Ryan Chapman (Racine, OH) gave up a run in two innings of pitching as he collected his third save of the season. 

Schunk out-did his first game performance with a 4-for-5 game with a home run and five RBI's to lead the way for the RedStorm in game two. 

Rio posted eight hits in the second game victory. Senior catcher Tyler Plumpton (Peterborough, ONT) was 1-for-3 while Storey and senior designated hitter Chris Mahon (Hamilton, OH) were both 1-for-3 with a double each and one RBI each. Frias was also 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored and Yakura was 1-for-2. 

WVU Tech falls to 5-15 on the year and 0-6 in MSC play. Ryan Workman had a big second game for the Golden Bears as he went 4-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored and Eric Helton was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI's. 

"Offensively, we erupted, 13-0 game and I was able to clear the bench, Tyler Schunk had an outstanding day, going 7-for-8 (in the doubleheader) with nine RBI's and two home runs," Warnimont said. "Offensively, he was locked in and we hit the ball extremely well as a team."

Rio Grande will get a few days off to rest up before traveling to the University of Cumberlands next weekend. Rio and Cumberlands will face off in game one on Friday at 1 p.m. Stretch Internet will have play-by-play coverage beginning at 12:55 p.m.