Shawnee State pounded out 11 hits in the second game of a doubleheader at Branch Rickey Park to get an 8-4 win over Rio Grande and a series split to open AMC play.
Despite a solid showing by redshirt freshman Randall Scott in the first game, the Redmen won 2-1.
Even though it's still early March, Shawnee State coach Tom Bergan said the conference games can't be taken lightly. Bouncing back for the split was a positive sign.
“It means all the difference in the world. Going down 0-2 in the confernce isn't setting the tone,” Bergan said. “Hopefully we got them on their toes a little bit.”
Jonathon Venters picked up his first win of the season in the second game, going 5.0 innings and allowing four runs, three of them earned. Freshman Tyler Hollar earned his first save with three innings of scoreless relief.
“Venters got a little tired,” Bergan said. “I'm sure he would have liked to finish. Tyler Hollar, for the second game in a row, shut the door.”
Ryan Rowland went 3 for 4 in the second game, driving in four runs. Three of his RBIs came in the sixth inning when the Bears needed a big inning to put some distance between them and Rio Grande.
Leading 5-4, R.J. Neimer doubled to lead off the inning. Phillip Ashcraft was brought in to pinch run and advanced on a groundout. Zac Shoaf followed that up with a bunt single for his third hit of the game and Jared Perdue was intentionally walked.
Rowland then laced a double into right field to score all three runners.
Shoaf finished 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
Four of the Bears' runs came against Dustin Gibbs.
“We have to be able to hit a lefty too,” Bergan said. “Gibbs is a hard-throwing right hander. We didn't hang our heads (after the first game). When you get a guy that throws a little harder and throws strikes, it's a little easier to hit.”
In the first game, runs were hard to come by. Former Portsmouth star Randall Scott (1-1) made his AMC debut in the first game and pitched 7.0 innings and didn't allow an earned run. He struck out nine and gave up just three hits.
He took the loss when errors allowed Rio Grande to score twice in the fifth inning. Scott, at times, was dominant and found ways to battle out of most jams.
“Randall Scott, his first conference game, goes the distnace,” Bergan said. “Even though they had the probability of scoring some runs there, he battled through it. Both pitchers pitched solid games.”
The Redmen got on the board in the fifth when an error, a walk and then a single loaded the bases. With two strikes, Rio Grande tried a suicide and Randall's pitch glanced off the catcher's glove after the strikeout and a run crossed home plate. The Redmen scored again on a fielder's choice.
Shawnee State didn't give Scott much help. Rio Grande starter Nate Chau also pitched 7.0 innings, allowing one run.
“The bats in the first game were kind of quiet,” Bergan said. “Chau just nibbled, nibbled, nibbled and then would spot a fastball. We tried to get the guys to make adjustments, he was just a good pitcher today.”
One concern for Bergan was his team's five errors in the two games.
“You never like to see five errors in conference games,” he said. “I think if they relax a little bit, and with Rio, they have some speedy guys so you have to field it and get rid of it.”
Shawnee State continues its series with the Redmen today at Rio Grande. Pitching for the Bears will be Aaron Morrison (0-0) and Kent Kobayashi (0-0).
JASON R. CRISLER can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 242 or at crislerj@gmail.com.
First Game
Rio Grande Shawnee State
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Golom cf 4 0 0 0 Shoaf rf 3 1 0 0
Martin ss 4 0 0 1 Wooddell ss 2 0 0 0
Branon 1b 1 0 0 0 Perdue cf 2 0 1 1
Clagg pr 0 0 0 0 Rowland 1b 3 0 1 0
Morales dh 3 0 0 0 Craft 3b 3 0 0 0
Smith rf 3 0 1 0 Ashcraft dh 2 0 0 0
Warren lf 3 0 2 0 Crabtree ph 0 0 0 0
Jones pr 0 0 0 0 Morrison pr 0 0 0 0
Wells c 3 1 0 0 Timberlake lf 2 0 0 0
Hoover 3b 2 1 0 0 Hargrave c 3 0 0 0
Sato 2b 3 0 1 0 Blackston 2b 2 0 1 0
Chau p 0 0 0 0 Scott p 0 0 0 0
Totals 25 2 4 1 22 1 3 1
Rio Grande 000 020 0 - 2 4 0
Shawnee State 000 001 0 - 1 3 3
E - Wooddell (4); Craft 2 (3). DP - Rio Grande 1; SSU 2. LOB - Rio Grande 6; SSU 4. 2B - Warren (1). SB - Martin (7). CS - Martin (3).
IP H R ER BB SO
Rio Grande
Chau W, 2-1 7.0 3 1 1 4 9
Shawnee State
Scott L, 1-1 7.0 4 2 0 3 7
Second Game
Rio Grande Shawnee State
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Golom cf/2b 2 1 1 0 Shoaf rf 4 1 3 2
Martin ss 4 1 2 2 Wooddell ss 4 0 2 1
Crabtree dh 2 0 0 1 Perdue cf 3 2 1 0
Smith rf 0 0 0 0 Rowland 1b 4 1 3 4
Wells c 3 0 0 0 Craft 3b 4 0 1 1
Jones pr 0 1 0 0 Morrison dh 3 0 0 0
Chau rf/cf 3 0 1 0 Timberlake lf 2 1 0 0
Warren lf 3 0 0 1 Niemer c 2 0 1 0
Branon 1b 3 0 1 0 Ashcraft pr 0 2 0 0
Dolan 3b 3 1 1 0 Blackston 2b 2 0 0 0
Sato 2b/p 3 0 0 0 Reimer ph 0 1 0 0
Gibbs p 0 0 0 0 Venters p 0 0 0 0
Brown p 0 0 0 0 Hollar p 0 0 0 0
Totals 26 4 6 4 28 8 11 8
Rio Grande 001 120 0 - 4 6 0
Shawnee State 100 313 X - 8 11 2
E - Wooddell (5); Niemer (2). LOB - Rio Grande 6; SSU 6. 2B - Golem (6); Martin (2), Perdue (3); Rowland 2 (2); Niemer (1). HBP - Golom; Wells. SF - Crabtree (2). SB - Golom (10); Martin (8); Jones 2 (6); Shoaf (2); Rowland (2).
IP H R ER BB SO
Rio Grande
Gibbs 4.0 6 4 4 3 5
Brown L, 0-1 1.0 2 1 1 0 2
Sato 1.0 3 3 3 1 1
Shawnee State
Venters W, 1-0 5.0 6 4 3 1 2
Hollar S (1) 2.0 0 0 0 1 2
Records - Rio Grande 8-4 (1-1 AMC), Shawnee State 4-2 (1-1 AMC)
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