Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - After opening their season in frustrating fashion with 10 consecutive losses, the University of Rio Grande baseball was due a little good fortune.
In Sunday afternoon's home opener against Cleary (Mich.) University, the RedStorm got exactly what they were waiting on - twice.
Head coach Brad Warnimont fought off the cold - and the visiting Cougars - by posting a pair of walk-off victories, 4-3 and 8-7, at frigid Bob Evans Field.
Cleary slipped to 1-3 as a result of the sweep.
The Cougars appeared in control of Sunday's opening game, scoring once in the second, third and sixth innings to take a 3-0 lead into the home seventh.
Cleary starting pitcher Nate Raniszewski survived a pair of two-out Rio scoring threats in the fourth and fifth frames, but was in control and three outs away from his second win in as many outings.
But the wheels fell off of the right-hander's wagon in the seventh.
Senior Darius Jordan (Minford, OH) led off with a single and moved to second when junior Alex Scoular (Whitby, Ontario, Canada) was hit by a pitch.
Senior Luke Lindamood (Minford, OH) then singled to load the bases, setting the stage for a game-tying, three-run double to right by junior Beiker Fuentes (Crystal Lake, IL). An intentional walk to graduate senior AJ Thomas (Pickerington, OH) and a single to right by senior Angel Cruz (Santo Domingo, D.R.) reloaded the bases and prompted a pitching change.
Jeremy Fuchs came on to face sophomore Josh Whent (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada) and promptly issued a four-pitch walk to force in Fuentes with the winning run.
Fuentes finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, Lindamood had two hits of his own and junior Likeiry Jimenez (Reading, PA) added a double and a run batted in.
Sophomore Hayden Simon (Stouffville, Ontario, Canada) tossed a perfect seventh inning to earn the win in relief.
Ben Cerven had two of Cleary's four hits, including a home run.
Game two provided even more drama.
Rio Grande scored five times in the fourth inning to erase a 5-1 deficit, but the Cougars pushed across the tying run in the fifth and the go-ahead marker in the sixth for a 7-6 lead of their own and that's home things stood when the RedStorm came to bat in the home seventh.
Cleary reliever Ryan Lieng routinely retired both Fuentes and Thomas to begin the inning before issuing a walk to Jimenez to extend the frame.
Cruz was called on as a pinch-hitter and, three pitches later, lined a game-winning, two-run home run over the fence in right.
Jimenez led Rio with a home run, a double and three RBI, while Lindamood and Jordan also drove in one run each.
Fuentes earned the win in relief, tossing three hitless innings and striking out four.
Lieng suffered the loss for the Cougars, allowing four hits and a pair of runs over 3-2/3 innings.
Brady Alverson doubled and drove in two runs for Cleary, while Cerven also doubled and drove in one run.
The two teams will complete their four-game series with a pair of seven-inning contests on Monday beginning at noon.
