VERSAILLES, Ky. -- After getting a mid-week victory over Shawnee State (Ohio) earlier this week, the Midway University baseball team returned to action on Friday when they hosted Rio Grande (Ohio) to open a three-game series at Chandler Field.
The RedStorm (22-23, 13-9 RSC) jumped on Midway early and often scoring in five of the nine innings en route to the 11-6 victory over the Eagles.
Rio Grande chased Midway starter, Brandon Aoki (Camarillo, Calif.) early with three runs in the second inning as the left-hander was tagged with his shortest outing of the season. He tossed just two innings allowing three runs on seven hits.
The Midway offense finally got going with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the RedStorm lead to 6-4.
Senior, Danny Maguire (Dana Point, Calif.) stepped to the plate to open the frame. Facing a 2-1 count, Maguire crushed the next pitch and sent it over the fence in left-center field for a solo home run – his third of the season.
Kurt Paldino (Overland Park, Kans.) singled and Barrett Croslin (Russellville, Ky.) reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at first and second with one out as Koy Lindsey (Sonora, Ky.) stepped to the dish.
After looking at a first pitch strike, the sophomore went yard as he hit a laser over the left field fence for a three-run home run. The bomb was his second of the season to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Rio Grande scored a run in the next half inning, but Midway answered with one of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Layne Peavler (Harrodsburg, Ky.) was hit by pitch as he would later score on a wild pitch that cut the deficit to 7-5.
The RedStorm would continue to add to their lead with four runs in the seventh. Midway scored one last run in the eighth inning. Maguire singled and Graeham Luttor (Toronto, Canada) doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out.
After a strikeout, Barrett Croslin grounded out to second base to score Maguire from third. The comeback for Midway just wasn't in the cards as the RedStorm took the series opener by a final score of 11-6.
Anibal Salado (Santo Domingo, D.R.) followed Aoki and tossed four innings. He allowing four runs on five hits with seven strikeouts. Jacob Cole (Mount Eden, Ky.), Noah Marion (Louisville, Ky.) and Cameron McAnally (Owenton, Ky.) were used to get Midway thru the seventh.
Cole started the inning and allowed four runs – three earned – on two hits in 0.2 innings, Marion didn't get an out allowing one hit, while McAnally pitched 1.1 perfect innings. Mitchell Kreidenweis (Independence, Ky.) tossed the ninth allowing just one hit with three strikeouts.
The two teams will wrap up their series with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. ET at Chandler Field.
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