BLUEFIELD - Baseball improved to 8-1 on the season with a doubleheader sweep of the University of Rio Grande, Tuesday afternoon at Bowen Field. The Rams took game one 5-1, then had to go to extra innings to quiet the Red Storm 4-3 in the nightcap.
In the opening game a five run second inning, sparked by a three-run inside-the-park home run by Jordan Huntley, his fifth round tripper of the year, spurred the Rams to victory. Huntley finished the game with a pair of hits and three RBI. Lenyn Napoleon added a triple.
Alex Perkins gained the pitching victory as he started on the mound and worked six innings. He allowed four hits, struck out four and only walked one batter.
In the second game the Rams jumped to a 2-0 lead before Rio drew even. The teams then worked into extra innings. In the top of the ninth Rio forged ahead. In the bottom of the ninth Ozzie Millet tripled to score the game-tying run. Rio then intentionally walked both Napoleon and Edgardo Bernard to load the bases. Enter Marcus Espinal who lifted a fly ball to right that enabled Millet to race home and slide across the plate with the game-winning run.
Justin Coleman, who pitched the final three innings for Bluefield, picked up the win.
Weather permitting the Rams will host Concordia Ann-Arbor for a weekend series.