March 30, 2010

RedStorm take two from OSU-Mansfield

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm baseball team, ranked No. 14 in the first regular season Top 25 poll, increased their current winning streak to 13 games with a doubleheader sweep over Ohio State-Mansfield at Bob Evans Field on Tuesday afternoon. Rio won both games in mercy-rule fashion, taking the first game 13-3 and capturing game two, 11-1. 

Rio Grande (29-4) had to come from behind in the opening game after senior lefty Ryan Cramer (Olympia, WA) surrendered a two-run home run in the first inning to OSU-Mansfield catcher Shane Spies. 

The RedStorm would bounce back as they scored in every inning but the fourth in cruising to the 13-3 triumph. 

Junior shortstop Brad Konrad (Maumee, OH) swung the big bat for the RedStorm in the opening game, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI's, three runs scored and three stolen bases. Senior catcher Tyler Plumpton (Peterborough, ONT) was 1-for-4 and knocked in two runs. Senior third baseman Tyler Schunk (Cincinnati, OH) was 1-for-3 with an RBI as was junior second baseman Christian Frias (Salinas, PR).

Senior designated hitter Chris Mahon (Hamilton, OH) went 1-for-4 with an RBI, senior rightfielder John Storey (Wheelersburg, OH) was 1-for-1 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases. Junior leftfielder Michael Lynch (Cleveland, OH) was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Junior Dominick McAllister (Columbus, OH) added an RBI as did junior Brandon Lay (Columbus, OH). Senior Jimmy O'Brien (Wadsworth, OH) ended the game with a two-run single that gave the RedStorm the 10-run advantage.

Cramer (2-0) shook off the two-run blast in the first inning to last four innings and pick up the win. Cramer allowed seven hits and three runs while striking out two and walking one. 

Rio Grande collected 11 hits in the game and was the beneficiary of 14 OSU-M walks. The Maverick pitchers also hit a batter. 

Cody Gilliam took the loss for the Mavericks. 

Spies accounted for all the OSU-Mansfield runs as he went 2-for-3 with two home runs. Touby Bender also registered a 2-for-3 day.

Rio Grande picked up where it left off in the second game, scoring in every inning but the fifth. Junior southpaw Jesse Brown (Mt. Pleasant, NC) threw the ball well for Rio Grande in collecting his third win of the season.

Brown (3-0) went five innings, scattering four hits and allowing one unearned run in the fourth inning. He struck out five and walked only two. 

Schunk was 2-for-4 with a triple and two-run home run to lead the Rio offense. The home run was the seventh of the season for Schunk. Junior first baseman Francisco Ramirez (Columbus, OH) went 3-for-4 at the plate and knocked in a pair of runs. Senior centerfielder Ryan Yakura (Pickering, ONT) was 2-for-3 with a triple and scored two runs and Frias also notched two hits, including a double and an RBI. He also swiped two bases.

Storey clubbed his third home run of the season, a two-run shot in the third, for his only hit in the game. Plumpton and Mahon were both 1-for-3 with an RBI apiece and Konrad went 1-for-4 with a run scored. 

Brice Huff was the losing pitcher for the Mavericks. He was chased from the mound after three innings, having been touched up for 10 hits and seven runs. He had one strikeout and one walk. 

Rio Grande head coach Brad Warnimont was pleased to get both Cramer and Brown some innings. "The pitchers threw well, we had some guys that needed to get some work, Jesse and Ryan needed some work," Warnimont said. "They got some work and we got some of the younger guys in."

He was pleased with the offensive out-put as well. "We hit extremely well, probably could have hit a little better, we had some situational at-bats, we did not come through, but I guess can't complain when you have 24-25 hits in a doubleheader," he said. "We've just to keep rolling, keep playing."

"I thought we played very good defense again today, which is a good thing," Warnimont added. "We made some nice plays." 

Rio Grande will welcome Pikeville College to Bob Evans Field this weekend for a Mid-South Conference doubleheader. The first game is set for Friday at 1 p.m.  Stretch Internet will have play-by-play coverage beginning at 12:55 p.m.

Additional Note: Rio Grande has added a game to its schedule. The RedStorm will host Otterbein College on Monday (April 5) at 3 p.m.