Sports

Bobcats Continue Downward Spiral, Lose to Rio Grande

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Anthony Knittel threw 8 1/3 scoreless innings to lead the Rio Grande RedStorm to a 2-0 victory over the Ohio Bobcats on Wednesday in Athens.

“He threw an outstanding game,” Rio Grande head coach Brad Warnimont said of Knittel. “He’d be a weekend guy if he was a little more consistent. He showed today he has potential to throw a good ball game and he did.”

Both teams played great defense throughout the game, with the only two runs coming in the sixth inning. The first run came on an RBI single from Luis Jimenez that brought in Chris Ford. Then, after a single and stolen base from Daryin Lewis that put runners at second and third, Ohio pitcher Gerry Salisbury walked a batter and both runners advanced a base to put Rio up 2-0.

Lewis had a strong game, going 3 for 4 hitting to continue his impressive freshman season. Marcus Makuch picked up two hits, including a triple, and still leads Rio Grande in batting average.

“We’ve been working on taking the ball backside all year,” Warnimont said. “Today we had some timely hits and it worked out well.”

Neither team could seem to get much momentum, mainly due to the excellent play of the starting pitchers, Salisbury and Knittel.

Salisbury was able to strike out six batters before Logan Cozart replaced him after he forfeited the two runs. Cozart shared the final two innings with Corey Wells, and the two didn’t allow a run in the three innings they combined for.

Mike Deitsch came in to relieve Knittel in the middle of the ninth inning, and wrapped up the game for the RedStorm.

Rio Grande has a three-game-series against Lindsey Wilson this weekend at home and look to continue building momentum for the tournament, which starts in early May.