Rio Grande Sports Information
INSTITUTE, W.Va. - The University of Rio Grande parlayed a quick start offensively and a strong pitching performance from Evan Lewis into an 8-1 win over Indiana University Purdue University Columbus, Saturday evening, in non-conference baseball action at the Shawnee Sports Complex.
Earlier in the day, the RedStorm suffered a 14-2 mercy rule-shortened loss at the hands of Indiana University South Bend.
Rio Grande finished the day at 6-13 with the split.
The RedStorm scored once in the first inning, three times in the second and four more times in the fifth frame.
The run support was more than enough for Lewis, a redshirt freshman left-hander from Carrolton, Ohio who allowed nine hits and an unearned run over 5-2/3 innings. He walked three and fanned six.
Graduate senior AJ Thomas (Pickerington, OH) had a run-scoring double to give Rio its first inning lead, while senior Luke Lindamood (Minford, OH) followed up junior Braeden Gaul's (Huntington, WV) RBI double in the second with a two-run home run of his own to make it 4-0.
Gaul, sophomore Josh Whent (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada) and junior Waskar Martinez (Santiago, D.R.) all had run-scoring singles in the fifth inning, with senior Austin Kendall (Troy, OH) also plating a run on a groundout.
Whent finished 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a run batted in, while Gaul was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Lindamood went 2-for-4.
Lucas Slager had three hits and drove in a run in the loss for the Crimson Pride, while Ethan Guire and Brevin Barker both had two hits each.
Gavin Haltom started and took the loss for IUPUC, allowing eight hits and six runs over 4-1/3 innings.
In the opening game of the day against IUSB, the Titans scored four times in the top of the first inning and never looked back en route to the run-rule victory.
Braeden Leathed had three hits, including a double, and drove in four runs to lead IUSB, while Jack Ryan was 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI and Anthony Pohl was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Gabe Cortez also doubled and drove in two runs in the winning effort.
Cade Van Ness got the win in relief for the Titans, allowing four hits and a run over the final five innings.
Junior Justin Anaya (Brownsville, TX) started and took the loss for Rio Grande, surrendering seven hits and eight runs - three earned - over four innings.
Rio pitching gave up nine hits and eight walks, while the RedStorm committed seven errors defensively.
Martinez and junior Likeiry Jimenez (Reading, PA) both doubled and drove in a run in a losing cause, while Lindamood and senior Seth Mills (South Shore, KY) also doubled.
Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action next Friday when it opens River States Conference play against Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky.
First pitch for the series opener is slated for 3 p.m. EST.
