March 26, 2010

RedStorm baseball sweeps Cumberlands

Williamsburg, Ky. --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm baseball team swept a doubleheader on the road at the University of the Cumberlands on Friday afternoon. Rio won the first game 8-1 and captured game two by a 14-4 score. 

Rio (25-4, 9-1 MSC) pulled into a first place tie with Campbellsville with the two wins. Rio has won nine games in a row.

The RedStorm started quickly in game one, scoring three runs in the first inning. Rio scored in all but two innings in the game and produced 11 hits.

Senior rightfielder John Storey (Wheelersburg, OH) and senior pitcher Tyler Schunk (Cincinnati, OH) had big games at the plate for Rio Grande. Storey went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run. Schunk was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI's. 

Senior catcher Tyler Plumpton (Peterborough, ONT) went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI and junior second baseman Christian Frias (Salinas, PR) was 1-for-2 and an RBI. Junior first baseman Francisco Ramirez (Columbus, OH) collected two hits, including a double and two runs scored. 

Schunk (6-1) went the distance to get the win for the RedStorm. He scattered four hits and allowed only a solo home run to Miguel Vazquez in the sixth inning. He registered 11 strikeouts and surrendered three walks. 

Shane Stancil (3-1) took the loss for the Patriots (14-15, 1-8 MSC). 

In game two, Rio blew the game open late with six runs in the fifth inning, one in the sixth and five in the seventh. Rio held a 2-1 advantage heading into the fifth. 

Schunk continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and two RBI's. Senior designated hitter Chris Mahon (Hamilton, OH) went 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Ramirez added three hits, including a double and he scored two runs. 

Senior centerfielder Ryan Yakura (Pickering, ONT) was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and junior rightfielder Brandon Lay (Columbus, OH) went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Plumpton was 1-for-4 with an RBI and freshman Robbie Easterling (Proctorville, OH) was 1-for-1 with two RBI's and a run scored. 

Sophomore Derek Green (Bean Station, TN) and freshman Zach Jordan (Proctorville, OH) also recorded RBI's for Rio Grande.

The RedStorm hammered out 16 hits in the second game. 

Junior righthander Desmond Sullivan (Scarborough, ONT) went the distance for the win. Sullivan (4-0) yielded 10 hits and four runs with eight strikeouts and one walk. 

Jared Stafford led Cumberlands with three hits in three at-bats including a solo home run. Cameron Ohl (2-2) absorbed the loss as he was chased from the mound after 4 2/3 innings.

The two teams will hook up again on Saturday. The starting time for the first game has been moved to 12 p.m. Stretch Internet will have play-by-play coverage beginning at 11:55 a.m.