Mighty Oaks top RedStorm in series opener

Rio Grande Sports Information
     OAKLAND CITY, Ind. - Oakland City University jumped to a two-run first inning lead and played add-on over each of its next three at bats en route to a 13-3 mercy rule-shortened win over the University of Rio Grande, Thursday afternoon, in River States Conference baseball action at Konkler Field.
     The host Mighty Oaks improved to 21-10 overall and 8-1 in conference play.
     Rio Grande dropped to 13-17 overall and 5-5 in the RSC.
     Oakland City took its first inning lead on a groundout by Josh Russell and a steal of home by Xander Willis before tacking on three runs in the second, four runs in third and a fourth inning marker for a 10-0 lead.
     Keifer Wilson hit a solo home run and Moises Rosario had an RBI double in the second for the Mighty Oaks, while Hudson Allen and Marcos Arocho each had two-run home runs in the third. Allen added a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
     Rio Grande got its runs in the sixth inning on a fielder's choice grounder by junior Keniel Rosado (Juncos, P.R.), a run-scoring single by sophomore Chase Christian (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) and a bases-loaded groundout by freshman Gehrig Cordial (South Charleston, OH), but OCU got the three runs back in the home seventh to invoke to 10-run mercy rule.
     Arocho had a two-run single in the inning and Russell ended the contest with a base hit up the middle.
     Arocho finished 3-for-5 with five RBI, while Allen had two hits and three runs batted in for the Mighty Oaks. Wilson, Fred Fernandez and Dicky Gonzalez all had two hits each.
     Mick Uebelhor started and got the win for OCU, allowing three hits over five scoreless innings.
     Freshman Connor Gullett (Cincinnati, OH)started and lost for Rio Grande after surrendering six hits and seven runs - six earned - over two-plus innings.
     Senior Likeiry Jimenez (Reading, PA) had two hits in a losing cause for the RedStorm, while Cordial and freshman Gregory Catano (Miami, FL) each had a double.
     The two teams are scheduled to concluded their series on Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. EDT.