RedStorm split with WVU Tech

East Bank, W Va.  --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm baseball team split a doubleheader versus WVU Tech on Sunday afternoon, losing the first game, 3-2 and rebounding with a 12-2 victory in the nightcap.

Rio Grande (27-18, 12-9 MSC E) dropped two out of three in the series and will look to make-up the fourth game at a later date.

The RedStorm scored twice in the in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead, but could not close the deal as the Golden Bears scored a run in the sixth to tie it and one in the seventh to win it. 

Senior leftfielder Michael Lynch (Cleveland, OH) led the Rio offense, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.  Senior first baseman Francisco Ramirez (Columbus, OH) was 1-for-3 with an RBI.  Sophomore second baseman Kyle Perez (Casselberry, FL) was 1-for-3 and senior centerfielder Ryan Weaver (Baltimore, OH) was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Sophomore lefthander Ryan Robertson (Waverly, OH) took the loss, pitching 6 1/3 innings.  Robertson (5-7) allowed nine hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out and walking two. 

Grant Williams led WVU Tech (7-16, 13-27 MSC W), going 3-for-3 with two RBI's. 

Chris Barnett picked up the victory for the Golden Bears.  Barnett went the distance, allowing five hits and two runs with six strikeouts and one walk.

In game two, it was all Rio Grande as the RedStorm pounded out 15 hits en route to the 12-2 victory.

Junior catcher Brian Suerdick (Dayton, OH) and Perez paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base respectively.  Lynch was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI's and two runs scored. 

Ramirez was 2-for-3 with a run scored, senior shortstop Brad Konrad (Maumee, OH) was 1-for-4 with three RBI and senior designated hitter Dominick McAllister (Columbus, OH) was 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI's.

Junior Ryan Chapman (Racine, OH) was victorious in his second start of the season.  Chapman (2-0) lasted five innings, giving up four hits and two runs (one earned).  Sophomore Mark Parent (New Albany, OH) closed out the game with two scoreless innings. 

Jarryd Summers absorbed the loss for WVU Tech.  He pitched four innings, yielding five hits and six runs (three earned) with five walks and two strikeouts. 

Rio is slated to take on UVA-Wise next Saturday and Sunday, but will try to get the last game in the series with WVU Tech played before making the trip to Wise, Va. this weekend.