Rio Grande Sports Information
GRAYSON, Ky. - The University of Rio Grande's late-season surge toward an opportunity to extend its baseball season continued on Friday afternoon.
Head coach Brad Warnimont's team parlayed strong pitching in game one and a lively offensive effort in game two for a doubleheader sweep of Kentucky Christian University in River States Conference play at Knights Field.
The RedStorm posted a 3-0 win in the opener before outslugging their hosts, 9-5, in the back end of the twin bill.
The sweep - coupled with Oakland City University's sweep of Brescia - allowed Rio Grande to improve to 27-17 overall and 11-12 in the RSC and move within one game of sixth place in the league standings.
The top six teams qualify for the RSC Championship Tournament, which begins in two weeks.
Kentucky Christian dropped to 20-19 overall and 10-13 in league play - one game behind Rio Grande for seventh place - as a result of the two losses.
In Friday's opening game, Rio Grande scored twice in the second inning and maintained that lead until adding an insurance marker in the ninth inning.
Freshman Jacob Kaiser (St. Marys, OH) doubled with one out in the second and scored on a single to right by senior Keniel Rosado (Juncos, P.R.) to make it 1-0.
Following a double by sophomore Gehrig Cordial (South Charleston, OH), Rosado scored on a wild pitch to push the lead to 2-0.
The ninth inning run came about when redshirt junior Brett Haskins (Ripley, WV) reached on a one-out single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a single to center by junior Caleb Asjes (Overland Park, KS).
Freshman KB Perkins (Chillicothe, OH) scattered six hits and a pair of walks with three strikeouts over 7-1/3 innings to get the win.
Senior Schon Pespisa (El Monte, CA) recorded the final five outs to earn a save.
Haskins, Asjes and Kaiser all had two hits each, while sophomore Gregory Catano (Santo Domingo, D.R.) added a double in the victory.
Tyler Sammons started and lost for KCU, surrendering six hits and two runs over six innings.
Eric Odell had two hits, including a double for the Knights, while Aidan Bevan and Cristian Garcia also had two hits apiece in a losing cause.
In game two, Rio Grande bolted to a 7-0 first inning lead and never looked back.
Kentucky Christian scored all of its runs in the fourth inning to close within 8-5, but never got any closer.
The RedStorm pushed across a single marker in the sixth inning to set the final score.
Freshman Micah Hartman (Breman, OH) went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, including a two-run single in the seven-run first, to lead Rio at the plate.
Cordial, Catano and senior Josiah Devapalan (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) all had two hits each in the victory, while Haskins doubled and drove in two runs and Rosado had a double.
Redshirt freshman Logan Martin (Wellston, OH) got the win despite allowing five hits and five runs over four innings.
Junior Dalton Vance (Taylor, MI) was credited with a save after tossing a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts.
Isaac Bellamy started and lost for KCU, allowing six hits and eight runs - albeit only one earned - over three innings.
Garcia finished 3-for-3 in the loss for the Knights, while Caleb Atafua and Eli Pope both hit two-run home runs and Ty Scott added a double.
The two teams will conclude their weekend series on Saturday with a single nine-inning contest scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. first pitch.
