RedStorm blows early lead, then rallies past Rams

Rio Grande Sports Information
     BLUEFIELD, Va. - The University of Rio Grande coughed up a five-run first inning lead before rallying to regain its early advantage and hanging on late for an 8-7 win over Bluefield (Va.) University, Tuesday afternoon, in non-conference baseball at Bowen Field.
     Rio Grande improved to 11-14 with the victory.
     Bluefield slipped to 11-10 as a result of the loss.
     Rio Grande bolted to a 5-0 first inning lead thanks in part to a run-scoring triple by redshirt sophomore Brett Haskins (Evans, WV), a run-scoring hit by junior Josiah Devapalan (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) and a two-run triple by junior Keniel Rosado (Juncos, P.R.), but the host Rams scored once in the third and twice in both the fourth and fifth innings to knot the score at 5-5.
     Haskins had an RBI single and Devapalan drove in two runs with a single to center to put the RedStorm back in front, 8-5, but single markers in both the seventh and eighth frames got the Rams back within one.
     Bluefield's comeback threat died in the ninth inning, though, when Rio redshirt sophomore Jacob Napier (Alexandria, KY) struck out the first batter of the inning and, after surrendering a single to Dylan Cutler, fanned each of the next two hitters to end the game.
     Haskins finished 3-for-5 in the win, while Devapalan was 2-for-5.
     Junior Schon Pespisa (El Monte, CA), the second of eight Rio pitchers, picked up the win despite allowing three hits and two runs in his one inning of work.
     Napier earned a save by recording the final four outs of the contest.
     Jaren Woodcock, the third of four Bluefield hurlers, took the loss. He allowed a hit, a walk and three runs in 2/3 of an inning.
     Andres Vega and Cutler had three hits each to fuel the Rams' 15-hit attack. Cutler's hit total included a double.
     John Greenawalt had two hits and three RBI, while Aidan Brown had two hits and two runs batted in for the Rams. Bryce Medlock and Nick Stergiou also had two hits each, including a double, in a losing cause.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Friday when it opens a three-game weekend River States Conference series at Midway University.
     First pitch is set for 2 p.m.