May 1, 2010

RedStorm sweep WVU Tech; advance to MSC Semi's

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm baseball team swept WVU Tech in the Mid-South Conference Opening Round series, two games to none after a 13-0 seven inning win on Saturday afternoon at Bob Evans Field.

Rio Grande (44-10), the No. 2 seed in the tournament, again jumped on the Golden Bears early with seven runs in the second inning. Rio had two huge hits in the inning as senior rightfielder John Storey (Wheelersburg, OH) ripped a two-run double and senior third baseman Tyler Schunk (Cincinnati, OH) rocketed a three-run home run over the left-centerfield fence.  The seven runs would prove to be more than enough for the RedStorm on this day.

Rio was far from finished however, scoring five more runs in fifth inning. Senior designated hitter Chris Mahon (Hamilton, OH) provided the big blow in that frame with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to give Rio a 9-0 advantage. Mahon was the hitting star for the RedStorm as he went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI's. 

Rio had plenty of offense to go around as 13 hits would indicate. Schunk was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI's. Junior first baseman Francisco Ramirez (Columbus, OH) posted another two-hit day with a double and an RBI. Storey was 1-for-1 with two runs scored, two RBI's and a pair of walks while both senior catcher Tyler Plumpton (Peterborough, ONT) and junior second baseman Christian Frias (Salinas, PR) were 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI's each.   Junior shortstop Brad Konrad (Maumee, OH) went 1-for-3 with a walk and senior Jimmy O'Brien (Wadsworth, OH) came off the bench in the seventh inning and delivered a pinch-hit single. 

Freshman Ryan Robertson (Waverly, OH) established a new single-season record by gaining his 11^th win of the season. Robertson (11-1) pitched five innings of five-hit, shutout baseball en route to the victory. He fanned five and did not walk a batter.  Sophomore Ryan Chapman (Racine, OH) pitched a scoreless sixth inning and junior Desmond Sullivan (Scarborough, ONT) allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless seventh. 

WVU Tech (15-27), the No. 7 seed, managed just six hits and mounted only one serious threat in the entire game. Grant Williams led the Golden Bear attack with a 2-for-3 day at the plate.

Matt Cockburn (1-7) started the game for WVU Tech and was roughed up by the Rio bats, giving up six runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings. He walked two and did not strike out anyone. 

"We were locked in, we were focused and we hit the ball extremely well again (today)," said Rio Grande head coach Brad Warnimont. "I think that's a good sign of things to come going into the conference tournament (semifinals)."

"You want to be playing your best ball and I think we're probably there," Warnimont added. "We're locked in and did a nice job, got some seniors in on their home turf, one last at-bat, so hopefully that will be a little momentum going into the conference tournament."

Warnimont was once again pleased with the pitching effort he received. "Ryan Robertson set a school record with 11 wins today, throwing a shutout and we got Ryan Chapman an inning and Des (Sullivan) an inning of work going into the tournament. We're going to need to be sharp going into Friday and Saturday."

Rio Grande will face No. 3 seed Georgetown College on Thursday (May 6) at 4:30 p.m. at Campbellsville. Stretch Internet will provide play-by-play coverage beginning at approximately 4:25 p.m. 

Rio and Georgetown split the season series at two games apiece.