RedStorm advance past Georgetown at MSC Tourney

Campbellsville, Ky. --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm baseball team jumped out to an early lead and was never headed in defeating Georgetown College 7-2 in the first game of Mid-South Conference Tournament Final Four round at Campbellsville University on Thursday afternoon. 

Rio Grande (45-10), the No. 2 seed, used a 12-hit attack and the superb pitching of senior Tyler Schunk (Cincinnati, OH) to stay in the winner's bracket. 

Schunk, who was named the MSC Player of the Year earlier in the day, went 2-for-4 and two RBI's at the plate and scattered seven hits on the mound in leading the RedStorm to victory. His only mistake was a two-run home run to Georgetown's Pete Thackston in the sixth inning. Schunk (10-2) struck out seven and walked two in the route going performance.

Thackston led the Tigers offensively, going 2-for-4. 

Rio jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 5 ½ innings. The RedStorm led 5-2 after seven and closed out the scoring with two runs in the ninth on a hit by Schunk and a home run by senior centerfielder Ryan Yakura (Pickering, ONT). 

Junior shortstop Brad Konrad (Maumee, OH) led the 12-hit attack with a 3-for-5 game at the plate for Rio Grande. Junior first baseman Francisco Ramirez (Columbus, OH) added two hits and an RBI and junior leftfielder Michael Lynch (Cleveland, OH) was 2-for-5 with an RBI. 

Freshman third baseman Joe Stolpa (Galloway, OH) was 1-for-3 and senior catcher Tyler Plumpton (Peterborough, ONT) was 1-for-4.

Kevin Rueff (5-7) started and lost for No. 3 seed Georgetown (26-31). Rueff pitched 8 2/3 innings, giving up 11 hits and seven earned runs. He struck out eight and walked only two.

Rio Grande improves to 3-2 against Georgetown this season.

"I was pleased with the way we played today," said Rio Grande head coach Brad Warnimont. "We played well."

"Schunk threw the ball extremely well and we played some great defense behind him. (Junior second baseman) Christian Frias had two web gems."

Rio will face the winner of No. 1 seed Campbellsville and No. 4 seed St. Catharine at 4 p.m. on Friday. Georgetown will face the Campbellsville/St. Catharine loser at 8 p.m. tonight in an elimination game.

Stretch Internet will have play-by-play coverage of the Rio game beginning at 3:55 p.m.