Rio Grande Sports Information
KINGSPORT, Tenn. - The University of Rio Grande saw its losing streak grow to five straight games as the RedStorm dropped a 9-3 decision to Madonna (Mich.) University before falling to No. 5-ranked University of the Cumberlands, 4-2, in Friday's action as part of the Clash of Conferences at Hunter Wright Stadium.
The two losses left Rio Grande at 2-5 for the season.
In the opening game against Madonna, Rio Grande rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead after three innings, but the Crusaders finished with six unanswered runs to win going away.
Tyler Stepek went 2-for-4 with a triple, while Kooper Etheridge went 2-for-3 with a triple and a double and Bobby Cavin had a home run in the win.
Kyle Revere and Jason Serafinchon also had two RBI each for Madonna.
Carson Collins started and got the win for the Crusaders, allowing six hits and three unearned run with four strikeouts over as many innings.
Senior Gabe Carter (Huntington, WV) started and lost for the RedStorm, allowing four hits, three walks and five runs - four earned - over 4-2/3 innings.
Freshman Riley Wooldridge (Cincinnati, OH) and senior Alex Scoular (Whitby, Ontario, Canada) both went 2-for-3, while Wooldridge's hit total included a double and junior Keniel Rosado (Juncos, P.R.) tripled and drove in two runs.
Game two saw Rio Grande enjoy thoughts of an upset win after breaking a scoreless deadlock with a run in the top of the sixth inning in the seven-inning contest.
The Patriots countered, though, scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth to secure the come-from-behind win.
Max Harper went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run batted in for UC, while Johnboy Rittenhouse doubled and drove in two runs.
Ben Rohrbach, the second of three Patriot pitchers, got the win. Jack Scrofano earned a save.
Redshirt sophomore Jacob Napier Alexandria, KY) was the hard-luck loser for Rio Grande. After carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning, he finished with four hits and four runs allowed over 5-2/3 innings.
Freshman Gregory Catano (Santo Domingo, D.R.) and junior Casey Funk (Houston, TX) drove in runs for the RedStorm.
Rio Grande wraps up play in the two-day event on Saturday against Madonna at 10 a.m. and Milligan University at 5 p.m. Both games will be played at Milligan's Anglin Field.
