Midway takes series opener from RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Needless to say, it was not the start to a three-game weekend series with Midway University at a sun-splashed Bob Evans Field that the University of Rio Grande was looking for.
     The Eagles took advantage of a shaky outing by the RedStorm bullpen - in addition to some not so stellar defensive play by the home team - to push across eight unanswered runs and post a 10-5 victory, Friday afternoon, in River States Conference baseball action.
     Midway improved to 24-13 overall and 13-6 in league play as a result of its come-from-behind win.
     Rio Grande, which had a seven-game winning streak snapped, slipped to 23-17 overall and 7-12 against RSC foes.
     The RedStorm looked well on their way to an eight straight triumph, scoring twice in both the second and fourth innings for a 5-2 advantage.
     But the Eagles pushed across a single run in the fifth inning before scoring five times in the sixth - on only one hit - to take the lead once and for all.
     A pair of insurance markers in the eighth inning set the final score.
     In large part, Rio Grande was its own worst enemy in the inability to maintain the early lead.
     Five RedStorm pitchers combined to issue eight walks, hit three batters and toss a pair of wild pitches - the bulk of which came after freshman starter Logan Martin (Wellston, OH) was forced out of the game after throwing 94 pitches in just four-plus innings.
     Martin allowed two hits and three runs - only one of which was earned - while walking two and fanning six.
     Rio Grande also had four errors on the day, leading to three of the Midway runs being unearned.
     Noah Atherholt went 3-for-4 with a double to lead the Eagles offensively, while Logan Janiszewski was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in and Colt Whaley hit a two-run home run.
     Xavier Hart started for Midway and earned the win in his first decision of the year, allowing nine hits and five runs - only one of which was earned - with five strikeouts in 6-1/3 innings.
     Luke Richardson allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two over the final 2-2/3 innings for his first save.
     Sophomore Connor Gullett (Cincinnati, OH) took the loss for Rio Grande after failing to record an out amongst the three batters he faced in Midway's five-run sixth inning.
     Sophomore KB Perkins (Chillicothe, OH) went 3-for-4, while sophomore Gregory Catano (Santo Domingo, D.R.) and freshman Jacob Kaiser (St. Marys, OH) had two hits each and senior Keniel Rosado (Juncos, P.R.) had a double and two RBI in the loss for the RedStorm.
     The two teams will conclude the series - and the home portion of Rio's season schedule - with a Senior Day doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.