RedStorm survives slugfest with Wilberforce

Rio Grande Sports Information
     CINCINNATI, Ohio - As things turned out, the 21 combined runs scored in the first meeting of the season between the University of Rio Grande and Wilberforce University wasn't an offensive explosion.
     Not by a long shot.
     The RedStorm and the Bulldogs combined for 29 runs on Monday afternoon in Rio's 19-10 slugfest victory in non-conference baseball action at the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy.
     Rio Grande, which posted a 12-9 win over Wilberforce in the first of their four scheduled meetings on Feb. 20 at Bob Evans Field, improved to 12-21 with the win.
     The RedStorm led 8-0 before their hosts ever came to bat, but still needed eight more markers over their final two at bats to emerge victorious in the 3-1/2-hour marathon.
     Wilberforce, which suffered its 14th loss in 20 outings, drew to within 11-9 after seven innings, but was finished off by Rio's late-game surge.
     The RedStorm banged out 19 hits in the win and had seven players record multiple-hit performances.
     Senior Luke Lindamood (Minford, OH) led the offensive onslaught, going 4-for-6 with a home run, a double and four runs batted in.
     Senior Angel Cruz (Santo Domingo, D.R.) and junior Likeiry Jimenez (Reading, PA) both had had three hits and two RBI, while junior Justin Anaya (Brownsville, TX) was 2-for-4 with four RBI.
     Cruz also homered and Jimenez had a double.
     Freshman Samuel Colina (Maracaibo, Venezuela) finished 2-for-5 with three RBI in the winning effort, while freshman Omar Chirinos (Santa Rita City, Venezuela) had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs and sophomore Darwin Oleaga (Boston, MA) went 2-for-6.
     Freshman Mitchell Crowley (Norwood, Ontario, Canada), the first of seven Rio hurlers, picked up the win despite allowing two hits, a pair of walks and three runs over three innings. He also struck out five.
     Sophomore Hayden Simon (Stouffville, Ontario, Canada), the last of the RedStorm's pitchers, earned his fourth save with 1-2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
     Pitching-thin Wilberforce's starter Xavier Thompson suffered the loss for the Bulldogs. He allowed 14 hits and 13 runs - 11 earned - over 7-1/3 innings.
     Davion Williams swung the hottest bat for the home team, finishing 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI.
     Beau Spears finished 2-for-4 with an RBI in the loss, while Joe Mendy also had two hits and Daunte Ward drove in two runs. Spears and Mendy both doubled, as did Marques Smith.
     Rio Grande is slated to return to action on Friday when it opens a three-game River States Conference series at home against Ohio Christian University.
     First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Bob Evans Field.