Rio Grande Sports Information
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio - For the second consecutive weekend, the University of Rio Grande found itself falling short of a needed series sweep.
This time around, though, Mother Nature played a big role in preventing the RedStorm from getting the job done.
After rolling to a mercy rule-shortened victory in the opening game, Rio saw its late game two rally short-circuited by rain in a doubleheader split with Ohio Christian University, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference baseball action at Olson Field.
The RedStorm won game one, 15-2, in a contest stopped after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule, while the Trailblazers took game two, 5-4, with the game being called after six innings due to rain.
The inclement weather came after Rio Grande had scored the tying run in the top of the seventh inning and had the would-be tying run at third base with two outs.
However, with the field left unplayable following a brief downpour, the score reverted back to the last completed inning and the hosts were awarded the win.
Rio Grande finished the day at 20-22 overall and 11-10 in conference play.
Ohio Christian moved to 13-24 overall and 10-11 in the RSC with the split.
In game one, Rio Grande started strong with four first inning runs and finished stronger with six runs in the seventh inning to invoke the mercy rule.
Junior Daniel Rutherford (Coal Grove, OH) led the RedStorm's 16-hit attack, going 4-for-5 with a double, two runs batted in and three runs scored.
Junior AJ Thomas (Pickerington, OH) had three hits, three RBI and three runs scored, while junior Darius Jordan (Minford, OH) was 3-for-4 with a run batted in and OCU graduate senior transfer Andrew Daria (Villa Hills, KY) had two hits and drove in four runs.
Senior Clayton Surrell (Carroll, OH) also homered, drove in two and scored three times in the victory for Rio.
Freshman Daewin Spence (Portsmouth, OH) started and earned the win for the RedStorm, allowing six hits, three walks and two runs over 5-2/3 innings. The right-hander also struck out six.
John Santopadre started and lost for OCU, surrendering 11 hits and eight runs - six earned - over 3-2/3 innings.
Colton Lee finished 2-for-3 in the loss for the Trailblazers.
Game two saw Ohio Christian strike quickly with three runs in the first inning and two more markers in the third inning for a 5-0 lead.
Rio Grande rallied for four runs in the sixth to get within one before seeing the weather intervene in the seventh inning.
Connor Mathis had two hits and three RBI in the winning effort, while Spencer Crane went 2-for-3 with a double and a run batted in and Stephen Larkins added a double of his own.
Tanner Popp went the distance on the mound for the hosts, surrendering eight hits and four runs - three earned - with two walks and two strikeouts.
Thomas finished 2-for-2 with a double for Rio Grande, while sophomore Angel De La Cruz (Santo Domingo. D.R.) also went 2-for-2.
Junior Brady Choban (Wadsworth, OH) started and lost for the RedStorm, allowing six hits and five runs over just 2-1/3 innings.
Rio Grande is slated to return to action on Tuesday afternoon at Shawnee State University for its final non-conference games of the season.
First pitch for game one is set for 2 p.m. at Branch Rickey Park in Portsmouth.
