Baseball splits doubleheader with Rio Grande on Friday

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- The Lindsey Wilson baseball team split a doubleheader with Rio Grande (Ohio) today at TVA Credit Union Ballpark.

The Blue Raiders (1-2) won the opener 12-1 in seven innings before dropping the nightcap 5-4 in a scheduled seven-inning game.

Derek Zavala and Brandon Adams combined for five hits while Ty Menrath, Seth Price, and Kelvin Llanos each provided two RBIs for the Blue Raiders' first win of the season.

Brady Cappe hurled a complete game, striking out 10 in his Lindsey Wilson debut. He allowed just four hits without surrendering an earned run.

Lindsey Wilson wasted little time denting the scoreboard with a four-spot in the bottom of the first inning. The inning would be one of three the Blue Raiders posted a crooked number.

Price delivered a two-run single to open the scoring in the first and Lucas Bault and Llanos followed with back-to-back run-scoring doubles to give the Blue Raiders the 4-0 lead.

A pair of Lindsey Wilson errors in the second aided the lone Rio Grande (3-6) run of the game.

The Blue Raiders closed with eight-straight runs, including six runs in the fifth to cruise to the 12-1 win.

Cappe struck out multiple batters in three different innings, including striking out the side in the seventh to close out the game early with an 11-run win.

In the nightcap, Rio earned the split with a run in the bottom of the seventh for a come-from-behind win.

Trailing 2-0, the Blue Raiders cut the deficit in half with a run in the top of the fourth on a wild pitch. Lindsey Wilson failed to capitalize on a pair of Rio errors in the inning, leaving the bases full.

One inning later, Lindsey Wilson seized the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Price and Tyler Maskill provided RBI hits and Llanos added an RBI sacrifice fly to push the Blue Raiders in front.

The RedStorm responded with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth to tie the game at 4-4.

Just like in the fourth inning, Lindsey Wilson had a chance for a big frame -- but the Blue Raiders once again left bases loaded, this time without scoring. Lindsey Wilson ended the game stranding nine runners.

Rio Grande took advantage of the third Lindsey Wilson error of the game that ultimately led to the game-winning run for the RedStorm. Cade Duncan -- who suffered the loss -- allowed a walk to open the inning and committed a throwing error to put the winning run on third base.

Two batters later Jesse Watson delivered a bases-loaded single off Jake McDaniel to secure the win.

Andy Rosales started the game, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings of work.

Menrath led the Blue Raider offense with two of the team's six runs in the game.

Lindsey Wilson and Rio Grande complete the three-game series on Saturday at TVA Credit Union Ballpark.