Sports
RedStorm Split Doubleheader With Martin Methodist
By: Brendan Margolies
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Game One:
The Martin Methodist RedHawks baseball team took to the field today and scraped out the 4-3 win over Rio Grande, in Springfield, Alabama. The game was the first of a doubleheader on Saturday for the teams, who are warming up for the spring season which starts in just a few short weeks.
The end of the game proved to be exciting, as runners were on first and third for Rio Grande and no outs in the final inning. Sadly for the Redstorm, the combination of pitching and defense picked up all three outs and closed out the game.
Starting pitcher Blake Beavers threw a complete game and contained the Redstorm to just three runs on six strikeouts. Beavers did an impressive job controlling the game, keeping runners off base and closing out the final innings. Even when he did concede runs, he never let the game get out of hand.
Outfielder Brodie Jefery had some key contributions for the Redhawks, with two hits and two RBI’s, both of which came in the pivotal fifth inning where Martin Methodist outscored Rio Grande 3-0. The Redhawks also had bases loaded opportunity late in the game which would’ve sealed the game but failed to capitalize. Martin Methodist also stole four bases and didn’t get thrown out at all.
Blake Beavers also only threw two walks for Martin Methodist compared to the seven thrown by the combination of David Steele and Anthony Knittel of the Redstorm. In a game as close as this was, those extra on base oppurtunities proved to be the difference. Clint Gobell of the Redhawks picked up three of those walks and added a run as well.
For Rio Grande, outfielder Chris Ford did his best to keep his team in the game, going 2-3 at the plate and scoring two runs. Relief poitcher David Steele came in for Knittel and didn’t allow a single run but his offense couldn’t get the runs they needed.
Game Two:
Rio Grande won the second half of its doubleheader on Saturday against Martin Methodist by a score of 5-2. The RedStorm were led by Kevin Arroyo who had three hits and Luis Jimenez who added two more hits, including a key fifth inning homerun.
Starting pitcher Mike Deitsch contributed six solid innings in which he only allowed one run and two walks. The other run allowed was on a ball that got past RedStorm catcher, Austin Hall. Deitsch also struck out five hitters before closer David Steele came in to finish the game for Rio Grande in the seventh inning.
This game was tight until the final inning, with both teams trading a pair of runs each through the first six innings. The top of the seventh is where the ballgame got out of hand for the Redhawks. Rio Grande opened up the inning with two singles followed by a sacrifice bunt which moved both runners to scoring position. Austin Hall then redeemed his earlier mistake by hitting a single up the middle that drove in both runners to make the score 4-2. Arroyo then doubled in Tyler Noel who was pinch running for Hall, making the score 5-2 and putting the icing on the cake.
The RedStorm take on Spring Hill College on Sunday Feb. 2nd and look to continue building momentum for the regular season.