NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast baseball team opened River States Conference play Saturday with a sweep of West Virginia Tech 7-5 and 5-3.
The Grenadiers (9-6, 2-0 RSC) got strong outings from both of their starters, Ryne Underwood and Brandon Nylin and were able to opening the scoring in both games to give the starters some room for error.
In game one, the Grenadiers got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Nolan Rogers led off with a single and then scored on the next play when third baseman Sean Crosby misplayed a grounder and then unleashed a wild throw which allowed Rogers to score from first. Daniel Brescia reached base on the error and scored when Korbin Williams hit a sacrifice fly to right.
In the top of the fourth, the Golden Bears tied the game with a two-out rally. After back-to-back IU Southeast errors, a two-run single by Kent Rooklin tied the game.
IU Southeast took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth. After Tyler Warmath hit leadoff double, he advanced to third on a passed ball. Clay Woeste singled to right to score Warmath.
The Grenadiers broke the game open in the seventh with a four-run inning. Daniel Brescia had a two-run single, Josh Beams reached base on a bunt and drove in Nolan Rogers and Williams had an RBI single.
Starter Ryne Underwood (2-1) worked eight innings and gave up two unearned runs on eight hits. He struck out seven and walked one
Tyler Warmath went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
In game two, the Grenadiers jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a pair of runs in each of the first two innings.
In the first, Daniel Brescia and Korbin Williams each scored from third on passed balls by the catcher Kurt Latocha.
In the second inning, Josh Beams came through with a two-run single to score Warmath and Woeste, who had both walked.
Kurt Latocha cut the lead in half with a two-run single in the fourth and an error by Woeste allowed the third run to score on a misplayed grounder.
Kyle Goodman singled and advanced to second on a sac bunt in the sixth. Clay Woeste drove him in to provide some insurance runs for Brandon Nylin.
Brandon Nylin (2-0) worked six innings and gave up three runs, two earned. He allowed five hits and walked two while striking out six.
Andrew Yates struck out the side in the seventh for his first save of the year.
The Grenadiers conclude the series with WVU Tech Sunday at noon.
