The Red Ravens baseball team split their conference series with Johnson County pushing their overall record to 8-7 and their conference record to 5-3.

Game 1: CCC 14 JC 13

With their ace, Gavin Heltemes, on the mound and coming off a 3-1 series win, the Red Ravens looked ready to keep their momentum going.  However, the Cavaliers jumped out early on Heltemes putting the Red Ravens on their heels from the beginning.  Being down 10-0 going into the bottom of the 4th inning, head coach Jake Martin had one thing to say to his team: "Keep fighting and never give up."

The team did just that.  In the bottom of the 4th inning, the Red Ravens scratched across three runs.  Then in the bottom of the fifth inning, the offense added four more runs to put the team down 12-8.

Martin would rely on his bullpen to get his team through the game.  Freshman Grant Smith would hold the Cavaliers offense with a big time strikeout to their big left handed power threat Brian Sullivan.

With the bases loaded, freshman Connor Boyt stepped up to the plate.  With anticipation filling the dugout and the fans, Boyt sent a towering fly ball to left field for a grand slam to tie the game at 12.  The Red Ravens would add two more runs in the inning, putting them up 14-12.

Martin would hand the ball over to sophomore Trevor Lunkitz to shut the door for his first save of the year.

Damon Jorgenson would go 4/4 with 3 RBI on the game while freshman Zac Freeman would go 2/4 with 2 triples.

Game 2: JC 18 CCC 4

Looking to keep the hot hand alive, freshman Aaron Bechtel took the mound for the Red Ravens.  Once again, the Cavalier offense would force the Red Ravens to go to their bullpen early and often.  

The pitching staff couldn't contain the heavy hitting offense.  The pitchers held the Cavaliers scoreless in one inning (5th) with sophomore Garrick Johnson on the mound.

Game 3: JC 5 CCC 2

Starting on the bump for the Red Ravens in game three was freshman Quinten "Louisiana" Romero.  Louisiana would pitch very well going 5.0 innings pitched, giving up one earned run, while striking out three.

Despite the valiant pitching effort, the good start was done in by errors as the Red Ravens committed three costly errors.  Each error would cost at least a run.

Offensively for game three, Antonio Culotta produced very well going 1/3 with 2 RBI.  The sophomore center fielder played excellent defense for the game, chasing down several balls in the gaps.

Game 4: CCC 17 JC 7

Trying to salvage the series, the Red Ravens would look to their offense to take the lead.  Once again, a Red Raven starting pitcher would not be able to go deep into the ball game, forcing Martin to call on his bullpen.

The bullpen responded well for the team.  Freshman Dylan Matthew received his first collegiate win, as he would go 2.1 innings pitched and striking out three Cavaliers.

Once again, Hunter McMahon had an outstanding return to the mound.  The red shirt freshman threw a solid 2.1 innings with four strikeouts and only one walk.  The freshman wowed even the home crowd with his command and velocity.

Offensively, the Red Ravens would receive major contributions from the usual suspects.  Boyt added another three RBI to his weekend total while fellow freshman Blake Carroll would go 2/5 with 1 RBI.  Perhaps the biggest contribution came from sophomore third/first baseman Tyler Brown.  Brown would go 3/6 with a monster home run, one double, and three RBI.

Weekend Standouts:

Connor Boyt: 6/10 10 RBI 1 HR (grand slam) 1 double
Blake Carroll: 4/13 6 runs 1 stolen base
Grant Smith: 1W 0.1 inning pitched 
Dylan Matthew: 1W 2.1 ip 2k
Hunter McMahon: 2.1 ip 4k