Rio Grande Sports Information
MOUNT VERNON, Ga. - Host Brewton-Parker College used late home run power in game one and early offensive firepower in game two for a doubleheader sweep of the University of Rio Grande, Friday evening, in non-conference baseball action at BPC Field.
The Barons got two-run homers in both the fifth and sixth innings of the seven-inning opener for a 7-3 win, while scoring four times in the first inning and eight times in the second to fuel a 14-7 triumph in the nightcap.
Brewton-Parker improved to 4-5 as a result of the sweep.
The RedStorm dropped to 0-8 with the two losses and is off to its worst start since an 0-18 beginning to the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign.
When the two teams play again on Saturday, head coach Brad Warnimont's club will trying to avoid becoming just the third team in program history to begin with 10 or more consecutive losses.
In Friday's opener, Rio Grande erased a 2-0 deficit on two-run fourth inning home run by graduate senior AJ Thomas (Pickerington, OH) and wiped out a 3-2 shortfall on a fifth inning sacrifice fly by senior Angel De La Cruz (Santo Domingo, D.R.).
The Barons got the lead back for good in the home fifth on a two-run home run by Kyran Coleman and added insurance in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run bomb by Michael Son.
Coleman finished 2-for-3 in the win, while Kendell Wade was 2-for-2 with a run batted in and Carson Kirby had a double and an RBI.
Ryan Dopson picked up the win in relief, tossing 1-2/3 scoreless innings.
Sophomore Hayden Simon (Stouffville, Ontario, Canada), the second of four Rio hurlers, was tagged with the loss. He allowed two hits and two runs - both earned - over 1-1/3 innings.
Thomas finished 2-for-3 in the loss, while junior Beiker Fuentes (Crystal Lake, IL) was 2-for-4 with a double.
The RedStorm got off to a hot start in the nine-inning wrapup with first inning solo home runs by Fuentes and junior Joshua Napier (Alexandria, KY), but BPC countered with four markers in the bottom of the frame - three of which were the result of a home run by Son.
The Barons lowered the boom in the bottom of the second with eight runs. Kirby had a run-scoring double, Drew DeMasi had a two-run single and Jack Morris contributed a two-run double to highlight the uprising.
Jacob Mantooth went 3-for-5 with an RBI for Brewton-Parker, while Kirby, Son and DeMasi all finished with two hits each. Both of Son's hits were home runs and he tallied four RBI.
Ty Cook started and got the win for the Barons, allowing seven hits and three runs over four innings.
Junior Reid Shultz (Minford, OH) took the loss for Rio, allowing seven hits and 11 runs - only four of which were earned - over 1-1/3 innings.
Fuentes finished 3-for-5 with three RBI, while sophomore Josh Whent (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada) was 3-for-4 with a double and Napier had two hits in a losing cause.
Senior Austin Kendall (Troy, OH) also drove in two runs for the RedStorm.
Saturday's series-ending twinbill - which will be one seven-inning game and one nine-inning contest - is set for a noon first pitch.
