Pioneers rally in ninth to edge RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     WASHINGTON, Pa. - Crixtian Taveras hit a two-run single to cap a four-run ninth inning and lift Point Park University to a dramatic 8-7 win over the University of Rio Grande, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference baseball action at Wild Things Park.
     The host Pioneers improved to 16-7 overall and 9-1 in conference play with a 10th consecutive victory.
     Rio Grande dropped to 10-20 overall and 3-7 in the RSC with the loss.
     The RedStorm appeared well on their way to a series-opening win, taking a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
     Point Park scored twice to close the gap to 5-4, but Rio Grande got both runs back in the top of the ninth to take a 7-4 advantage into the Pioneers' final at bat.
     Isaac Santana started the game-winning rally by reaching on an error, while Eddie Javier, Jr. and Michali Brito followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases.
     Luis Gonzalez singled to make it 7-5 and prompt Rio to lift sophomore reliever Hayden Simon (Stouffville, Ontario, Canada) in favor of junior Reid Shultz (Minford, OH).
     Carlos Martinez grounded out to third to slice the deficit to one and Taveras followed with a single to right to plate the tying and winning runs.
     Gonzalez finished 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in the winning effort, while Taveras had three hits and two RBI and Brito went 3-for-5 with an RBI.
     Omar Morillo also had a pair of hits for Point Park.
     Jonathan Rivera, the last of four PPU pitchers, got the win.
     Simon suffered the loss for Rio, allowing seven hits and six runs - five earned - over 1-1/3 innings.
     Seniors Luke Lindamood (Minford, OH) and Angel Cruz (Santo Domingo, D.R.) both homered and doubled in the loss for the RedStorm, while juniors Braeden Gaul (Huntington, WV) and Justin Anaya (Brownsville, TX) both had two hits, including a triple. Gaul also drove in two runs.
     The two teams will conclude their weekend series with a doubleheader on Sunday at Pullman Park in Butler, Pa.
     First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m.