Golden Bears maul Rio in series opener

Rio Grande Sports Information
     BECKLEY, W.Va. - West Virginia University-Tech jumped to a 4-0 first inning lead and never looked back, cruising to a 15-0 mercy rule-shortened win over the University of Rio Grande, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference baseball action at chilly Linda K. Epling Stadium.
     The host Golden Bears improved to 19-15 overall and 8-8 in conference play with the victory.
     Rio Grande dropped to 13-24 overall and 5-11 inside the RSC as a result of the loss.
     Six RedStorm pitchers combined to surrender a dozen hits and issue a season-high 14 walks, as Tech followed up its four-run first inning with three runs in the second, four more markers in the third and two fourth inning runs to take a 13-0.
     The Golden Bears final two runs came in the home sixth.
     Rio Grande, on the other hand, managed just one hit and four total baserunners in the contest. The lone hit was a two-out first inning single by junior Likeiry Jimenez (Reading, PA).
     Francisco Caldreon had two hits and drove in three runs for WVU-Tech, while Chase Herndon and Hunter Fansler both had two hits and two RBI. Fansler's hit total included a double.
     William Gray added two hits and a run batted in for the Golden Bears, while Broedy Boyce had a first inning home run and Noah Lukas contributed a double.
     Matthew Gainer started and got the win for Tech, allowing a hit and a walk with five strikeouts over 6-1/3 innings.
     Sophomore Daewin Spence (Portsmouth, OH) started and lost for Rio Grande, allowing seven hits and as many runs over two innings. He walked five and fanned two.
     The two teams will complete their weekend series on Sunday with a doubleheader at Go-Mart Ballpark in Charleston, W.Va.
     First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m.