Bears spoil RedStorm's season opener

Rio Grande Sports Information
     CLEVELAND, Ga. - Unfortunately, a promising start did not produce a season-opening win for the University of Rio Grande baseball team.
     The RedStorm scored twice in their first at bat of the season, but failed to cross the plate again as host Truett-McConnell University went on to post a 9-2 victory, Friday afternoon, at the TMU Baseball Complex.
     The contest also served as the Bears' season opener.
     Rio Grande grabbed a 2-0 first inning lead on a two-out, two-run single by graduate senior Andrew Daria (Villa Hills, KY), but the early advantage evaporated in the home half of the frame thanks to a two-run double by Jake Edwards and a run-scoring single by Caleb Gentry.
     Truett-McConnell's lead ballooned to 6-2 in the bottom of the third when the Bears loaded the bases with two outs and all three runners scored moments later when Matthew Redmond's routine flyball to left field was dropped for an error.
     The final three TMU markers crossed in the fourth inning thanks to a two-run double by Andrew Johnston and a sacrifice fly by Edwards.
     Rio Grande had a pair of scoring opportunities later in the game, but failed to capitalize on either chance.
     The RedStorm put runners at second and third with no outs in the sixth inning after senior Clayton Surrell (Carroll, OH) was hit by a pitch and junior Jakob Johnson (Pickerington, OH) followed with a double, but the next three batters were retired in order - two by strikeout.
     Rio loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh thanks to a trio of walks, but the threat died on a flyout to left field.
     The RedStorm managed just three hits in the loss, including two by Daria.
     Gentry and Mikal Mascarello had two hits each in TMU's 10-hit attack. The Bears also were the beneficiaries of nine walks by Rio pitching.
     "I think we beat ourselves today but, ultimately, we got outplayed," said Rio Grande head coach Brad Warnimont. "We had too many free bases - nine walks, one hit by a pitch and three errors. Offensively, we hit some balls hard, but it's awfully tough to win a game with only three hits. We have to be better tomorrow."
     Daniel Rutherford (Coal Grove, OH), the first of four RedStorm hurlers, suffered the loss. The junior left-hander allowed four hits and five runs - three earned - while walking four over 2-2/3 innings.
     Tyler Gray started and got the win for Truett-McConnell, allowing two hits and two runs over 5-1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out two.
     The two teams conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon. Game one will be another nine-inning affair, while the nightcap will be a seven-inning contest.